Soul-Counsel: When What Went Up Comes Down

Discouragement often comes on the heels of high emotions and great encouragement. 

Ever noticed that? 

I recently heard mentioned in a podcast the saying: "What goes up must come down," and I was struck by the fact that this very much can be referring to spiritual, emotional and physical highs. 

A busy and fun weekend is often followed by a dull Monday. 

A good day with little ones full of laughs and good behavior is quickly followed by another one with way less of both. 

An exciting, energetic trip is often followed by an exhausted crash and sleepy, grumpy days to follow.

A spiritual high can quickly be followed by spiritual lows, clarity by fog, joy by sorrow, confidence by faltering. 

We so easily get discouraged once that high is replaced with a low simply because we secretly hoped the high would keep going on forever. 

I experience this way too often, but I hadn't thought to expect it and even prepare for it. 

If we are riding on the highs, we can -and should- be sure that we will be riding the coaster downward into a valley of gloom sooner or later. 

Maybe instead, we should step out of the coaster that we know is going up and down and plant our feet on solid ground. 

What do I mean by that? 

We are meant to be stable and secure in our walk with Christ, and the more we mature in Him, we learn not to live by those highs and lows, but to live by something more rocklike -that being the Word of Christ.

What His word says is very sure and can stabilize us if we let it. 

I know for myself, I am in the process of learning this, and by process, well, that is exactly what I mean. 

We can learn to listen to David counseling his own soul in many a dark and lonely cave and see how we can do it too. 

We can watch Esther go from fearful to courageous simply by turning her gaze up to heaven and recognize that her decision to look up can be ours too.

We can watch the kings in battles of old who went from faltering to certain after bringing their distress to their God and finding His word reassuring and emboldening, and we can do it too. 

We can learn from those who stopped in their seasons of plenty and good to give thanks to the One who gave it to them and then stop in the middle of our seasons of good and plenty and give thanks too. 

We can watch Elijah, Elisha, Daniel, Jeremiah, Isaiah, and many other prophets of the Old Testament who boldly proclaimed God's word experiencing discouragement and dismay, but hearing God speak to them and lift them out of that low, dark place, and realize that if they needed God to rescue them out of their darkness -and He did- we can expect God to do that for us too. 

We can look at Solomon and those who worshipped outside the newly built temple- a true victory and dream come true and recognize that this can be our response in victories and realized dreams too.

We can see Jesus using scripture to ward off the lies and temptations of the enemy and see that the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, is ours to use against the temptations and lies that we face too.

But when we realize we have ridden that coaster down into the valley of gloom, how do we get off of it then and there? 

I so easily get lost in trying to figure out the "whys" of what is going on in my heart. But guessing at the reasons why doesn't do much to encourage a discouraged soul. 

Instead, we need to make a choice to look up to the God who both knows us and knows how to help us and fasten our hope onto Him. 

We can look long within and may never figure out the why's of the low we are in in a way that will lift us out of it.

This morning, I wrote this counsel to my soul, because I was just in a low place that had followed a high. Read and be encouraged. 

...

"Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise Him again -my Savior and my God." (Psalm 42:11)

Oh, my soul, why are you discouraged and sad? Don't try to answer... It is too profound a thing for you to figure out, which is why you need God. 

Look up, my soul. There is One you can hope in in your darkest moments. One who is the Source of true hope.

You feel lost in this discouragement and sadness and want to work it out yourself, but you have forgotten that there is only one Savior who can rescue you. Only one God who not only knows why but has the ability to help you in and through it.

The only reason you've wanted to give up is that God is not your hope.

But look up, my soul. Your Rescuer is here. He is stepping among those self-centered thoughts, wading through those confusing emotions, eyes steadfastly set on His goal, which is you.

See His pierced hands reaching out to touch you and take hold of them.

Do you feel too ashamed of how little you have thought of Him? Do you assume that the shame is from Him?

Look again, my soul. Look into His eyes. What do you see? Only wholehearted love can be found there. 

He is never ashamed of you, for He gave up His whole life so that you could be His, and He is always in passionate, relentless pursuit of you. 

So, praise Him, my soul, as you take His hand, for His is your Savior and your God. 

...

If you find yourself discouraged because a high you hoped would last was followed by a low, look up, my friend. Jesus is always closer to you than you think.

It is easy to assume He doesn't want us to come to Him until we can pull ourselves together, but it is quite the opposite. 

Our places of brokenness are where we can be sure to see Him coming to meet us. 

He is always ready to infuse your soul with fresh courage to rise up and plant your feet on solid ground. 

So, put your hope in Him and praise Him, my friend. He is your Savior and your God.