Seasons, oh Seasons! Encouragement if your feeling lonely, discouraged or down during this joyous season.

Okay, so in lieu of the wonderful Christmas Holiday and New Years Coming, I wanted to encourage those who may not be in the most cheerful mood, those who may be waiting for God to answer a prayer or those that may be feeling lonely and discouraged.

It is very easy to fall into the commercialization of the holiday season, instead of the true reason for the season; to celebrate Christ's birthday. What a joyous occasion to celebrate!!

But anyway, I know how hard it can be when others around you have a significant other or a spouse and you so desire to have that as well. Let me first encourage you by saying that Psalm 37:4 is a promise that when we delight ourselves in the LORD, He will give us the desires of our heart. So, when we have a personal relationship with our Father, His desires become our desires. You have to believe that God will fulfill His promise, no matter what you "feel" like, having faith has nothing to do with how you "feel"

Here are some things I have learned, that I pray will help you as well, while waiting for the promises of the Lord to manifest in your life;

1) Do not be hard on yourself because you feel down. Sometimes we try to be so strong and cover up how we really feel inside. However, until we are honest about it, it will not go away. So please, do not beat yourself up because of how you feel. Everyone has had difficult or discouraging times in their lives, you are not the only one!!

2) Do NOT isolate yourself. Though it may seem like the most convenient and comfortable thing to do, don't keep yourself from being around those that love you or others who can help lift your spirit up. I know how it is when you are going through and you don't want to be around anybody!! Sometimes, even being around others who seem happy or that seem they have it all together can make you feel even more frustrated; however true friends and loved ones love you and just being around them can make you feel better.

I guarantee you, you will feel worse if you isolate yourself. All it will do, is give you more time to think about what you don't have and how bad you feel about your temporary circumstance.

God wants us to be surrounded by like minded people and the body of believers through all seasons;

The bible says in Hebrews 10:24-25; "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching".

3) Pray, Pray, and Pray some more!!! Prayer is SO powerful ya'll and God does answer every prayer. Prayer is communication with our Father, the closer we are to Him the smaller our "problem" becomes. Some things we don't have because we have not even asked for them (James 4:2). There are also prayers that God answers with WAIT (I know, I know, it's not always what we want to hear, but Father knows best). Psalm 27 is one of my favorite Psalms, but their are two verses at the end of this Psalm that has encouraged me for as long as I can remember (13-14):

"I am still confident of this:I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD."

Waiting normally is not easy, however we all have to do it sometimes. Also, as my pastor says; "Time is not your enemy". When God tells us to wait, He knows what He's doing. There is a reason for the wait and remember that waiting is not sitting around doing nothing; there is much work to be done in the Kingdom! (I will talk a little more on this later).

And finally sometimes, His answer is something better for us than we asked for. He knows what is best! Proverbs 16:9; In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.

4) Find someone that you can talk to. Whether it be a prayer partner, covenant partner, a trusted friend, family member, pastor or co-minister of the gospel of Christ. Ask God to reveal someone that you can share what you are going through with, someone who will listen to you and not have their own selfish ambitions. God will provide that friend for you.

5) Pray with a prayer partner. Matthew 18:20 "For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." It is important to come into agreement with a brother or sister in Christ about your prayer request or when praying for a breakthrough. There is power in coming together in prayer!

The Bible urges us, "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints" (Ephesians 6:18).

6) Pursue the dreams, passions, and visions that the Lord has given you. Do not put your life on hold because of things not being the way you want them to be. While waiting on God to manifest His promise; begin to write the vision down and make it plain!!

If it is a gift that you want to share with the world (dancing, teaching, preaching, singing, etc.), begin to put those gifts to use. One of my favorite parables is the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30; Luke 19:12-28), (I will have to post another blog about this). However, as one of my sisters shared with me; "Don't wait for your calling to come, to use your gifts", In other words don't wait for the divine assignment to come, you already have the gift now, put those gifts to use!!

If it is a future husband that my sisters are believing God for; or a wife that my brothers are believing God for, ask God to help YOU to become the future help meet (sisters) or leader of your home (brothers) that you need to be. Let Him do a work in you!! Also, you could do things like write letters to your future spouse, Pray for them daily, pay off some debt, begin preparing your self physically or using those gifts that you have that I just mentioned, to bless others. One of the best things to do in waiting for God to bring the love of your life into your life is to give your time to others in need. Money is not the only way to sow, we can sow into the lives of others!!

If it is a ministry or business begin to write your mission and vision and surrounding yourself with others that are in that field. Educate yourself on how to get things started and equip yourself with the word of GOD as your foundation.

Brothers and sisters; trouble does not last always and we serve a God with whom NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE! He is a God that performs miracles daily, a God who answers prayer, who gives us strength, peace, and love. His a God who fulfills dreams and He has promised not to withhold anything good from you. Know that your labor is not in vain! Weeping may endure for a night, but joy does come in the morning!!

Love ya,

Lynnea ;-)