5th August, 2013
Discouragement
in the life of a disciple – a moment to take stock and bounce back! Moses feels
overburdened today, with the weight not just of carrying the people along, but
of their obstinacy not to perceive all that is so good and blessed around! The
signs and wonders notwithstanding, the people decide to be unhappy and never to
be convinced of the goodness that surrounds them. As a disciple in ministry sometimes, all the good
that is done and all the troubles that are taken seem to be ignored and much
worse, interpreted wrongly! We see this discouragement in every person of God –
apart from Moses presented today, Jeremiah (20:14-16), Paul, ... the great prophets
and disciples experienced it – Jesus was no exception. Today we find Jesus,
withdrawing to a secluded place after hearing the execution of John the
Baptist. As if to have been reminded of his own fate to come, Jesus resorts to
a time of solitude with the One who has sent him! Discouragements in our life
too can be made moments of blessings if we opt to spend those moments with the
right persons – first of all with God, who is always with us; then with persons
of God who are given to us as reminders of God’s presence! When they are
utilized well, as moments to take stock, we can bounce back into action with a
renewed spirit, as it happens with Moses, who grows so strong in his rapport
with Yahweh who stood by his side all the while; like Jesus who comes up with
the feat of feeding the multitude, as Yahweh did in the desert!
Discouragements are part of the package of our experiences – they have
something to tell us, something to offer us. If we are ready to wait on the
Lord, we will surely gather every bit of the blessings in store!