Don't Be Discouraged...

Narda Reid
May 17
2 min read

Updated: Jun 4

New Beginnings Have Hiccups Too

April showers bring May flowers…

When the rain is over and the sun begins to shine

Little flowers start to grow,grow, Grow!

Do you remember this nursery song or a version like it? As we age we outgrow such songs, but some have messages that are timeless. Winter's bitter cold has vanished and hope begins to blossom in nature and hopefully in our lives.

April is the time of Renaissance! New flowers, more showers, new leaves, new trees, new friendships, new jobs, new business deals, new opportunities and newer and bigger dreams. And yet new beginnings have hiccups too, despite huge expectations and prayers for success.

Perhaps you began the year running full speed ahead, and then you had to suddenly pull the emergency break due to unforeseen challenges. Maybe you started out very slow, sluggish and disillusioned. Business was at a snail’s pace… family relationships or friendships were a headache, and you were unsure of what “tomorrow” would bring. A rain of problems fell every day. You may have shifted between depression and despair. Chin up! April showers BRING May flowers. Joy comes in the “morning”!

I am not a big fan of Richard Smallwood’s music, but I love the words from the song his choir performed…”Healing”:

Don’t be discouraged, joy comes in the morning! Know that God is nigh.

Stand still and look up! God is going to show up. He is standing by.

There is healing for your sorrow. There is healing for your pain…

There is shelter from the rain. Lord send your healing for this we know–

There is a Balm in Gilead… to heal the soul.

I started this year on cloud nine, but I was sucker-punched several times by unexpected challenges. Problems in the home, on the job and in my body. I had a knee injury at work, and it slowed me down significantly, but I refused to be discouraged. Satan was angry, but God was rooting for me to “Stand still and look up!” Why? God always show up. New beginnings have hiccups too… and hiccups only last a few minutes. Don’t be discouraged!

Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and [be]of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

Joshua 1:9

Prayer: Thank you Lord, for saving my soul. You are my balm for all my disappointments and pain. Help me to not be discouraged because life has a repeated pattern of ups and downs. Remind me that you are always with me, and my present problems will also pass. Amen.

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