By design, almost all of the titles of my blogs are written in the present progressive tense. I am emphasizing that the story is not over; there shall be continuing action. Martin Luther, in an attempt to explain the everyday life of a follower of Christ, used the uniqueness of the printing press, which was common to his time, to illustrate this profound truth:
Troubles here are like the type that printers set. When we look at them, we see them backwards, and they seem to make no sense. But in heaven, when the lord prints out our life, we will find they make splendid reading.
Adhering to the Biblical Record
I am quite sure that Luther was not referencing the continuing struggles faced by those who serve as caregivers to dementia patients; nevertheless, the lesson is apropos. Early on, as Linda and I faced the unknown together, we identified discouragement as a major foe. Later, as her ability to participate diminished, guarding against discouragement became, and continues to be, a top priority for me. Thankfully, God has revealed that our battle with discouragement is not one that should be thought of as “Won and Done.” His dealings with Elijah reveal a paradigm that is worth replicating: manifestation of courage, discouragement, encouragement, and restoration of courage.
Manifestation of Courage (1 Kings 18:1-46) — Elijah faced down a sitting king of Israel, mercilessly taunted nine hundred and fifty pagan prophets, prayed a sixty-three-word prayer, participated in a mind-bending miracle, experienced the rain he had predicted in the midst of a drought, and ran twenty miles down a mountain to Jezreel.
Discouragement (I Kings 19:1-9a) — Overwhelmed by Jezebel’s threats to kill him, Elijah was afraid and ran for his life into the desert, prayed that he might die, was fed by an angel, and wound up spending the night in a cave in Horeb, which was over two hundred miles from Jezreel.
Encouragement (I Kings 19: 9b-14) — Things took a decidedly different direction when the Lord supernaturally encountered Elijah, a very discouraged and tired servant, and assured him that despite his baseless fears, incorrect assumptions, and assertions to the contrary he was not alone.
Restoration of Courage (I Kings 19:15-19; 2 Kings 1:1-17; 2;1-11) – God did not berate Elijah for his lapse of faith. Instead, He commissioned him to anoint Elisha as his successor, serve as his mentor, bravely confront the king of Samaria, and inform him of his impending death. Ultimately, God bestowed upon Elijah the honor of being taken up into Heaven without experiencing natural death.
Throughout the biblical record, we are privileged to watch great men and women of faith in a “Warts and All” narrative successfully engage in an ongoing battle against discouragement. Even though this side of Heaven, none were able to clearly understand what was taking place, we, while still on earth, are able glean truths that aid us in our struggle. Furthermore, by praying and singing the Psalms, we are able to move from onlookers to participants in their suffering and glorious victories.
Living Out the Biblical Paradigm
Generally, after unsuccessfully trying to overcome discouragement by operating from a position of strength, I adopted the Lord’s message to Paul as my very own: “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me (2 Corinthians 12:9 NLT). Specifically, as it relates to guarding against discouragement as I walk through the “Long Goodbye” with my precious wife, I find it very liberating that God has established a paradigm for overcoming discouragement that is solely dependent upon His power to bring about a restoration of courage!
Recent excerpts from my journal provide glimpses into my thinking, feelings, and actions while visiting Linda:
Monday – “We held hands and she often looked at me with a sweet, quizzical smile. In times like these, I am brought to the reality that she is living in the moment and enjoying me as a special person, much like a little girl infatuated with her boyfriend.”
Friday – “With the exception of sitting for brief moments, she remained in constant motion. For nearly an hour, she held my hand and led me on repeated laps up and down the hall until I was exhausted.”
My freedom to live in her world and join in the pleasures or feel the pain of the moment is hampered by the fact that I am tethered to the present, influenced by the past, and anticipating the future. For her, it is very different: The boundaries between the Kingdom of God on earth and the Kingdom of God in Heaven are blurred. In essence, she lives with one foot on earth and one foot in Heaven!
Ron Harvard Ministries 