They say there are two certainties in life: death and taxes. I would like to add a third: discouragement. Whether you are a church leader or not, you will eventually face it as an inevitable part of the human experience. Several years ago, I dealt with a significant bout of it. Here is what happened, along with practical suggestions for overcoming discouragement when it hits you.
It all began on a Monday, even though we had enjoyed a successful day at church the day before. We had baptized a dozen people, several others indicated they had trusted Christ, and we launched our Alpha program with great momentum. While I have been working hard to ensure that low Sunday statistics do not dictate my emotional state, I want to share some essential principles for beating discouragement.
Despite the previous day’s wins, seeing the final stats from the service caused my mood to shift. Lower-than-expected attendance and a poor offering triggered a period of gloom that I struggled to shake. It certainly did not help that my alma mater, Georgia Tech, was defeated on national TV that same week, further complicating my journey toward overcoming discouragement in leadership.
I found, however, that three small choices helped me dig out of my funk. I take great comfort that King David lifted himself out of a serious bout of discouragement when he “encouraged himself in the Lord his God” (1 Sam. 30:6). I believe that small choices that may not seem overtly spiritual can become ways we can encourage ourselves in the Lord.
Here are the three.
- Break up your routine. One week my wife and my daughter were going to make a run to our local super Walmart and they asked if I wanted to go. My first inclination was no. But after a moment’s reflection, I said, “Sure.” Usually I’ll just sit at the man bench at the check-out line. You know, those benches or chairs where guys sit to be very bored while their wives shop … one of those. This time, however, I decided I’d go to the books area and browse. When I did, I picked up the Guinness Book of World Records and had few laughs. I saw, among other things, a picture of a guy who holds the world record in piercings (yuk) and a picture of another guy in India with the world’s longest ear hairs at seven inches (gross). This little break, albeit odd, helped get my mind off my discouragement.
- Pamper yourself. For a guy, I know this may sound odd. I don’t mean you have to get a pedicure (unless you like them). Here’s how I pampered myself. At the time I swam at a local indoor pool three times a week and usually went back home to grab some breakfast. I’m was on a very tight budget (as most pastors are) so I didn’t eat out much. But that morning, I decided I’d go through the drive-thru and get some breakfast at McDonalds to treat myself. I spent $2.10 for a sausage biscuit and an Egg McMuffin (sans the egg). After I slathered each with grape jelly, I enjoyed this small treat. This small “self-care” gesture encouraged me
- Do something outrageously fun. At that time on Tuesday nights I’ve gone to my musical improv class. Yep, it’s like the old TV show, Whose Line is it Anyway. I had great fun in these classes. As a pastor I was a bit of a novelty to my classmates. Comedy turns blue so often, but when I put my clean twist on things, my classmate usually laughed. When I drove home that night, I feel like I’ve made a jumbo deposit into my soul.
So, the next time you face discouragement, give these ideas a try. Break your routine. Pamper yourself. Maybe even join an improv class.
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This article originally appeared on CharlesStone.com and is reposted here by permission.
