Down in the Ds: Not Just The Dumps

Have you heard people say they are down in the dumps? What they are saying is they are sad, oppressed, overwhelmed, and a few other things. Dumps is another of those D- words that we encounter sometimes. Have you been down in the dumps (Ds)? I think we have all experienced the Ds at some point. What other D-words are there that steal our joy: Depressed, defeated, doubtful, distracted, disappointed, delays, disease, disaster, and on and on those words go. But there is an answer for the Ds. That answer is FAITH. Don’t be down in the Ds (dumps, disappointed, distracted, doubtful), but be firm in your faith.

Faith allows us to hope, and hope is an anchor. We know that faith is the assurance of things that we hope for (Hebrews 11:1). Romans 15:13 tells us, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”  Paul had to deal with his own set of D-words in  2 Corinthians 4:8-9, He was pressed on every side [troubled and oppressed in every way], but not cramped or crushed; suffered embarrassments and was perplexed and unable to find a way out, but not driven to despair or demoralized; pursued (persecuted and hard driven), but not deserted [to stand alone]; struck down to the ground, but never struck out and destroyed. 

If this sounds like your life, you can do what Paul chose to do: Build your faith in Christ. We must continually learn to rely on this hope. Let faith and hope erase those Ds. God’s promise is that He will give us a future filled with hope (Jeremiah 29:11).

God has given us promises to increase our faith and our trust and Him. He has given us the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us. He has given us His Word and spiritual warfare strategies to keep the Ds away. Get my book, Spiritual Warfare Strategies: 30-Day Devotional and Journal, to help you stay in faith and conquer those D’s.