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The discouragement has tried to come back. I was reminded about some things that I remember reading here about how miracles take time. I've been trying to figure out what to do so I can get peace back in my life. It's difficult not to think that I'm disappointing God all of the time.

Today I read this story about a tree house from the Guideposts website. In the story, the author writes about how she discovered the closeness and realness of God while outdoors in her tree house. Ahhhh...it reminds me of my visits to the nature trail and how I feel God's heartbeat by seeing all the beauty he created. There is so much magic and wonder to behold on the trail, but often my own thoughts and worries cloud that gift. The last couple of times I've been on the trail it was hard to capture that wonder and joy of being on the trail. I've often been inspired while on the trail and have taken numerous photos of spots on the trail to use for settings for my storybook characters. The other day it seemed like I could not grasp that wonder while on the trail and it was like a voice within me was saying, "You can't grasp the wonder because you have neglected to use that wonder in what you create." It appeared to me that the wonder on the trail was dying because I allowed it to die by not creating new artwork inspired by that wonder. Does that make sense?

Last week when I was out on the trail, it's like a voice inside would not quit that continued to remind me to start creating using the inspiration I have found on the trail. Today I went on the trail and I was not in a very good state of mind. I just felt bummed out and disconnected. As I progressed further on the trail, I stopped to take more "inspirational" pics and it comes so easy to me to think of how to use those pics as a starting point to create a scene for my characters. I can "see" my characters in those settings. While taking pics, I was thinking that if I don't start using the inspiration found on the trail that my characters will fade away and die. A challenging question came to my mind today, "Is it me who has given up on the belief of my characters?" I don't know if I will find the same joy and wonder on the trail if I don't start drawing again. And I don't know if I will be at peace with myself if I don't draw again. Yet I find myself letting things get in the way of drawing again.

Christine,

I was just thinking about you earlier today and wondering how you were doing. . I am praying for you. Keep listening to His voice . Hang in there sis .

God bless n keep u
Jill

Thank you, Jill!

Doing the right things doesn't meant that you will get all the right results. But it surely does make it more likely. What are the right things?

Praying
Reading the Bible
Studying books that teach about the Bible
Praising God through songs and through thankfulness
Fellowshipping with other Christians.

Are you diligent in doing these things - I am not in any way trying to be critical or saying that you aren't. I am asking you. Are you being faithful in doing the things that allow God to more effectively lead you?

If you are, it won't guarantee that every minute will be good. In fact, I can just about guarantee that they won't. But it will lead to a lot more better minutes.

God bless.

Hi Christine,

Interesting post. Typical, I think, of the sorts of struggles endured by all people of Christ.

I can't think of a particular passage of scripture off the top of my head at this point, but the bible makes numerous, numerous references to the weakness of the human flesh, the human spirit. And yes, this weakness was at times chronic in even the greatest of God's people in the bible.

But the bible also speaks of persistence, even using that very word itself. So if being out there in the wilderness is a special time between you and God, it is obvious that the enemy will try to interfere with this time by cluttering up your thoughts with other issues (The enemy does this with me sometimes even as I am sitting in church, just to give you a corresponding example).

It sounds like the last time out there was not as you had wished, but if this is your special time with God, and it sounds like it is, God just wants you to get back out there and do it all over again. Sometimes you real have special experiences, sometimes, unfortunately, the enemy will be able to interfere to varying degrees, but overall, God just wants to see true perseverance and eventually, with His help, the attacks of the enemy will be worn down and overcome.

God bless