In spite of everything I shall rise again: I will take up my pencil, which I have forsaken in my great discouragement, and I will go on with my drawing.
- Vincent Van Gogh
Are you feeling discouraged today? Me too. Here are my take aways from this quote, I hope they feed your soul as they are feeding mine as I write them.
In spite of everything, I shall rise again
I think we've all been through a lot these past 5 years, as humans, as Christians and as youth pastors. The key is, can we find the resolve, as Habakkuk did, to rise again? God is worthy even if our circumstances do not favor us.
Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. 3:17,18
I will take up my pencil, which I have forsaken, in my great discouragement
I have forsaken many things in my discouragements like: being with people, writing, even prayer and reading my bible. "Who cares, anyway?" becomes my mantra. Has anything fallen by the wayside, for you?
Resolve to take up, again, that which you have forsaken; that thing that brings you joy or stabilizes your life. Perhaps you've laid down your shield,
In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Ephesians 6:16
Grab your shield once more and head out into the breach.
and I will go on with my drawing
You have a calling on your life. Your call isn't just about a position or a job, its about a life. You are called to love, to be kind and to serve even if, or when, you're no longer in the ministry.
Go on loving. Go on being kind. Go on serving. Return to your first love. Go on with "your drawing" because your picture is not yet done and it will not be until you reach heaven, and then you can lay your pencil down.
The Christian life is not a constant high. I have my moments of deep discouragement. I have to go to God in prayer with tears in my eyes, and say, 'O God, forgive me,' or 'Help me.' - Billy Graham
We teach our students that the Christian life is not a constant high. Modeling how to move in and through our disappointments and discouragements is, I think, a greater witness than all the preaching we could ever do.
If you are discouraged today, just know that, one day, the tears will be wiped from your eyes, your head will be lifted and you will look into the face of The One who loves you and believes in you.