Do you find yourself in a funk right now? You’re in between Christmas and New Year’s. Maybe the kids are off of school, there is no real routine, motivation has drained away, and you are wondering if you made a difference in 2019. Are you contemplating what you can do better in 2020?

Sometimes, life is overwhelming. You want to focus on the good because, truly, there is so much good if we stop and look for it even in the rough times, but over and over AND OVER again it seems that you come up lacking or miss the mark by just enough that that is the focus and not all that you have done.

To be honest, that is where I have been. I have been there numerous times through the years, and during these times just showering or doing the simplest of tasks seems so daunting. I thought to myself earlier today, “I just need to do what I know must be done.” Then, I wanted to collapse and cry trying to think about what that would take to get it done. I kept thinking if I would just do what so-and-so does, if I just got into a routine, if I just wasn’t so lazy, if I just…

Friend, stop. (Yes, I need to be my own friend too.) What would Jesus say if He was sitting beside me? What would He do? He would hug me, He would hold me, and then He would whisper His truth. While I have been in a Bible study this past fall and have been in God’s word, I had not been praying for myself, and I had not looked into His Word for His motivation instead of trying to manufacture my own motivation.

“When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken.” Psalm 34:17-20

“He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall not faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount on wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:29-31

“With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” Colossians 3:23-24

“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19

“Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” 1 Corinthians 15:58

Now, don’t me wrong, I still feel “funky” but I had the motivation – God’s motivation – to write this out. CVR received a year-end matching donation option four days ago, and I have needed to get the word out, but I just haven’t been able to do what needs to be done for that (other than a quick fb post… a reason to be thankful for social media!). Focusing on God and just doing the next thing (and not making a list!) helps me gain a bit of momentum. I can usually push myself to do for the ministry or do for others/other organizations, but this winter has just been a bit harder. Once the newsletter is sent, I will hug my loved ones and then trust God to help me do the next thing.

If you read those verses and thought to yourself, “Seriously, don’t they think I have tried that!” then my prayer is that you would evaluate your thoughts and see if you need a counselor, mentor, or trusted friend to work through some of the revolving issues. Being honest with friends and family and allowing space to work through thoughts, feelings, and needs is vitally important to overall well-being. Maybe, there is a mental health issue and you need a therapist for more extensive help. Seeing a counselor is the best thing I have done at times when I could not use my typical methods of Bible, friends, and proper sleep/nutrition. No one would ever expect someone with a broken leg to will themselves into getting up and walking with no pain or ongoing damage until the underlying issue was dealt with, and no one should expect someone with a mental health issue to will themselves to think differently. In both cases, however, the hurt person must be the one to cry out for help. And, then, he or she must accept the help. Do you need to cry out for help?

Wherever your thoughts stand this in-between season, I pray that you are able to look to our Lord and Savior for rest and restoration!