Encouragement for the Discouraged Missionary Wife

We’ve all been there.  We’ve all had our bad days.  We’ve all had our moments of discouragement.  How do YOU handle discouragement?  Does it send you to your husband to moan and complain about “this hard life,” or does it send you to the arms of your Heavenly Father?  It has often been said that the Father is the Head of the Home, and the Mother is the Heart of the Home.  I’m sure we also can relate to “When Mama’s not happy, Nobody’s happy!"  As wives and mothers, our attitude sets the tone in the home.  If we’re depressed, discouraged and always sad, our husbands and children will suffer.  While there is nothing wrong with taking our burdens and cares to our husband, sometimes it’s best to leave them at the feet of Jesus so we can be the helpmeet our husband needs.  “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” (I Peter 5:7) 

There are times when it is a good idea to take a step back and take a look at our lives.  We are serving the Most High God.  The God who loved us so much that He sent His Son to die for us.  The God who loves the people we are ministering to so much that He sent US to them!  When we get our eyes off the Lord and place them on ourselves it’s easy to hold a pity party and invite the family, but when we turn our eyes on Jesus the things that once bothered us so much before, now seem so trivial.  “Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, 
In the light of His glory and grace”   “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” (Isaiah 41:10)

Life on the mission field is very different than our “home” land.  Sometimes those differences are hard to overcome and accept.  Many times things on the mission field are more difficult, tiresome, and so inconvenient compared to life as we once knew it.  The language is hard; the people are different, and the food is strange.   Yet, this new country that we are in is home to the people God has called us to - People that need to hear of His Gift of Salvation.  “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28:20)  *This verse is a particular favorite of mine since we are serving the Lord at the very top of the world in Greenland.*

The best way to face discouragement is to get in The Word.  Go to your Heavenly Father and pour out your burdens to Him.  Spend time with the Lord Daily.  Talk to others who have been where you are.   Talk to your husband to see if there are things that can be changed to better help you help him. Reach out to those around you; take your eyes off yourself and your circumstances and really look at the lost souls surrounding you. There is nothing wrong with being discouraged; it’s how we handle it that can make or break us on the field!  “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord”. (I Corinthians 15:58)