Today’s article was written by Tiffany Jo Baker. Tiffany is one of my favorite people on earth. She was hired as my engagement and project manager assistant a few months ago, and there aren’t enough extraordinary words I can say about her. In addition to her remarkable work and steadfast character, Tiffany is the mom of two amazing teenaged girls (one diagnosed with epilepsy and dyslexia), surrogate birth-mom to five, mom to a dog and bunny, and loving wife to Brian, an avid outdoorsman. Tiffany has a wonderful sense of humor, is unflappable in dealing with my ADD-brain, and loves Jesus with her whole being. Tiffany originally wrote this article on her blog, and I couldn’t wait to share it with you. In addition, she has a fantastic free resource titled Don’t Quit Survival Kit. You can find this original article, the Don’t Quit Survival Kit, and more about Tiffany on her website. I would love to know how her words have encouraged you! Enjoy!
—Colleen
I thought this was going to be it! Finally, a breakthrough.
Things were going so well. After a season of prayer, persistence, patience, planning, and progress . . . the door looked like it was opening for what I had been waiting for. I started to see how the seemingly random things I had learned and experienced could all quickly make sense.
Then, it didn’t. It all came to a screeching halt when I received the news I didn’t expect to hear. I left the meeting holding my head up high only to let it all out in a heap of mess and tears in the car as I drove away.
Why was this happening? It didn’t make sense. It didn’t line up with anything I had been doing, believing, or sensing.
When You Feel Down
Have you been there too? Maybe you’ve felt like you were taking a step forward only to receive news that put you ten steps back. Maybe you’ve thought you had some direction and a plan, only to find it unraveling and no longer making sense. Maybe it has been difficult for you to get out of bed in the morning too.
How do you deal with disappointments? When life interrupts your plans and progress yet again?
Here are three things I’ve learned when I’ve been down, so I didn’t stay out:
- Focus on the wins, not the losses (especially the small ones).
It would be so easy to be and stay discouraged when we only talk and think about the things that go wrong. We must learn to celebrate the wins, especially the small ones (which takes getting used to!).
- Plan for real life. Have realistic expectations.
Most of the time there are twists, turns, and detours. If we come to expect the unexpected (not in a “Debbie-downer” kind of way but in a “I-don’t-have-control-of-everything” kind of way), it helps us keep a realistic perspective so we aren’t thrown into a downward spiral when things don’t go as planned.
- Know your season. Is it a time of distraction or rerouting?
Sometimes a disappointment or unexpected turn is exactly what is needed for us to get where we need to be. Figure out what this twist is being used for!
If you are in a season of disappointment and are tempted to quit, I understand. It’s okay to not be okay all the time, but you can choose to not stay there. There are some things you can control: namely, the choices you make. Give yourself time to grieve, mourn, or readjust—whatever is needed—but then get up and keep going! There might be something new and exciting just around the corner.
Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
(Lamentations 3:22–23 NIV)
Let Me Hear from You
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