Morning Mindset for Discouraging Days

“But I will sing of your strength; I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning. For you have been to me a fortress and a refuge in the day of my distress.”

(Psalm 59:16, ESV)

For the past few months, I’ve struggled to get restful sleep because of low back and sciatic nerve pain. I try to stay hopeful and optimistic, pray about it daily, and pursue various treatments. But sometimes discouragement sets in. After a rough night, I wake up wondering if the situation will ever improve. My thoughts pull me down a trail of negativity.

Recently, on one such morning, I considered calling off my Meals on Wheels volunteer shift. But I’m so glad I didn’t! God had something for me to learn and be encouraged by that day. 

Approaching Joe’s* house, the last on my route, I remembered the difficulties he and his wife had faced over the past 3 years. They not only battled her declining health from Alzheimer’s, but when Hurricane Helene hit our area, they could have drowned as the water rose to knee level in their home. They were evacuated by boat and later relocated to a rental home for almost a year. They eventually returned to their home, where his wife died peacefully several months ago. 

I usually stay and visit with Joe after delivering his meals. He is alone most of the day and enjoys company, and I, too, enjoy our conversations. But on this day, with my back hurting, I almost made an excuse to leave right after delivering his meals. But something (or Someone) nudged me to stay. 

  “How are you getting along these days, Joe?” I asked, settling into an armchair.

 I expected a conversation about his various medical issues, but his response surprised me.

“Let me tell you about my morning routine. The first thing I do when I wake up is draw open the window shades, look out at the sun, and thank God for waking me up. Then I thank Him for taking care of my wife and me all these years, and for each of my family members, and my daughter, who lives with me. I ask God to bless them and protect them. Then I get my coffee and thank him for that too.” 

Wow. I was both convicted and inspired. I needed to hear that.

In fact, Joe’s words motivated me to try a new morning routine. I turned to God’s Word for guidance and found a surprising source - Psalm 59. The psalm opens with David’s plea to God to deliver him from his enemies, Saul’s men, who were trying to kill him. David knew a thing or two about distress. He didn’t shy away from pleading with God in prayer, and neither should we.

But in the last two verses of Psalm 59, David shifts his focus. He sings aloud of God’s strength and steadfast love, praising God and thanking Him for being his fortress and refuge.

You and I may not face the level of distress David did, but most of us struggle with persistent problems that may even seem impossible to change. Maybe a chronic illness or a relationship that isn’t going well. We might feel beaten down and discouraged.

Like David, we can and should go to our Father in our distress.  He meets us with open arms. But also following the example of David (and my friend Joe), what if we shift our lament, especially in the morning, into a song of praise for all that God has done? 

In his recent podcast, Dr. Lee Warren discusses 10 ways neuroscience and Scripture align to help us flourish.

He explains that practicing gratitude activates a brain region that helps regulate emotions and increases dopamine and serotonin. When we thank God in times of distress or hardship, we are rewiring our brains to look for hope.     

That is so encouraging!

Friend, will you join me in trying this morning routine? When you wake, turn to Jesus, praise Him out loud in song or by reading Scripture, and thank Him for at least one thing in your life.

I would love to hear how your morning routine is going and would be honored to lift you up to the Lord in prayer. 

Please comment below!

You can check out the Dr. Lee Warren podcast episode HERE

*Please note name changed