Monday, February 19, 2018

What Is Your Kryptonite?

I have not posted in two weeks. Now, I could list a plethora of reasons: it's tax time and I'm trying to get paperwork together; Mom and I have been taking advantage of some sporadic breaks in the weather to get outside; I've been getting some of my seeds planted for Spring flowers and Summer vegetables -- just to name a few. But the real reason is Discouragement. There you have it (and it actually feels kind of liberating to see it in black and white).

I am beginning to realize Discouragement is my Kryptonite. Kryptonite, of course, was the one thing that was able to bring down Superman -- the legendary hero, faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, able to leap tall buildings in a single bound. Well, I am no Superman, but I am an organized, intense, focused, multi-tasking wife, mom and daughter who, two weeks ago, picked up a dose of Green Kryptonite. Wikipedia describes Green Kryptonite as cancer-causing to humans, and even, fatal with long-term exposure. I know Kryptonite is fictional, but Discouragement is not.

Dis-couragement: the thing Satan uses to take away the boldness, the courage Christ has given me for Kingdom purposes. Strictly my definition, but one that reminds me of the origin of discouragement; the blessing of courage and its "bigger than me" purpose; and my responsibility to armor-up against discouragement. Think of it this way: to disrobe means to take off what you are wearing, to remove it. To dis-courage or to allow dis-couragement is to remove, or allow someone or something else to remove courage from you.

This may shock you, but Satan isn't the least bit interested in you. He isn't the least bit interested in me. He's not looking to "mess with us" in the sense that he wants to spill your morning cup of coffee or keep you from that promotion. He wants glory -- the kind of glory only God is due. What better way to get it than to take it from God via God's people? Make them weak, ineffective, and -- best of all -- focused on him! If we are not strong and courageous for Christ, we are not proclaiming the Gospel to those who do not know Him. If we are walking around with the weight of the world on our shoulders, we're not convincing anyone of the power of Christ in our lives. If we are trapped in the grip of discouragement, we are focused on our problems, our limitations, our past failures. Weak, ineffective, focused on our enemy. Just like Superman under the influence of Kryptonite, his eyes fixed on his nemesis, as he collapses to the ground.

Discouragement unchecked eats away at us like cancer. It peeks its head over the fence by reminding what happened the last time we went on a diet. It growls loudly when our husband comes home and asks what's for dinner. It lays on a full-body check when our children come home from school with leftover cupcakes from the bake sale. And brings us to ruin when we step on the bathroom scale the next morning. But discouragement never stays in one area of our lives; Satan wants it to metastasize to our goals, our relationships. Until we can no longer can bear the thought of donning that skimpy little negligee on our wedding anniversary. Until we can't fathom a family vacation at the beach, as long as we look like a whale. Until we are convinced God has let us down again. Why would He make me this way if He really loves me? On and on it goes, larger and larger it grows until we do nothing more than warm the sofa each day. Cancer-causing, even fatal.

But there's hope! Wikipedia says, "Characters have been shown to become immune to the effects of Green Kryptonite due to...long term absorption of sunlight." (Hahaha! Oh, yes! You know where I'm going with this, don't you?) Christians have been shown to become immune to the effects of Discouragement, Jealousy, Unforgiveness, Pride, _____________ (insert your Kryptonite here) due to long term absorption of Son-light!

And here is where I leave you to rid yourself of your Kryptonite. Open your Bibles. Talk to Jesus (and listen when He talks). Head to a Bible study. Sing a few worship songs. Talk a walk. Serve. Call a Christian friend. Accept the pastor's invitation for prayer after the service. Absorb as much Son-light as you possibly can. And eradicate the effects of Kryptonite in your life.


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