Finding Enthusiasm Again

Some days seem like hard work and the longer we live in the ups and downs of changing times the more that seems true.  Sometimes we feel joy in the journey and other times we don’t seem to feel anything at all.  We can spend a lot of time looking at our feelings.  Sometimes we just get tired of dealing with it all. 

How can we find the strength we need to feel joy and enthusiasm to move forward and grow and thrive again?  God’s Word encourages is in this way.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as though you were working for the Lord and not for people. Colossians 3:23

Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15

It’s good to remind ourselves often that we live for God’s good plan today, not just as a reactor to particular emotions. God will be pleased with us when we give this day our best shot, from whatever our place of difficulty, and when God is pleased with us, He will bless us. 

So then our part in all of this is to lean back on God’s promise to be with us and get us through the challenges to our joy and enthusiasm. When we ask God for help and do what we can with as much enthusiasm as we can, we can expect God to help us through one more day.  We may not see the finish line, but we can have the satisfaction of living well one more day.

The Lord your God will fight alongside you and help you win the battle. Deuteronomy 20:4

Loving God, help us to find strength and enthusiasm as we go through the next hours of this day.  Help us to see progress and be encouraged by it, as we embrace the principle that “progress not perfection” is ultimately what counts.  Give us whatever focus we need to set goals for one activity or one hour, and give thanks as we accomplish them. 

We so often look at this set of experiences as something that will go on exhaustingly forever.  Help us to see where we are at from Your perspective -- one short day in the long and beautiful eternity.  And in the meantime, thank You for supporting us through one more day.  Amen

Little things often have a large impact on our enthusiasm.  Why not try taking a moment to practice gratitude, take a stroll in the fresh air, listen to praise music, or trying something new.  If we do these kinds of little things, joy and enthusiasm will catch up to us again.