We all fall into despair at times. Often I think of Pilgrim in "Pilgrim's Progress" when he fell into the slough of despond. When my children were at home, after we read that book, if someone seemed low one of us would say to that person, "Did you fall into the slough of despond?"
Sometimes we just need to see that we're low. We can be so good at faking it that we just think we're a little "OFF!" However, when we're really in despair, it helps so much to have a friend who cares say "Hey, I can see that you're feeling sad today." It sort of makes a person feel like their feelings are real and that they're really gloomy right now.
I tend to be melancholy. That's my disposition as I'm a Type 4 energy. Those who have read Carol Tuttle's book "It's Just my Nature," have a lot more peace about how God has made us. I highly recommend reading that book and, if you were in my neighborhood, I'd invite you over for tea and send you home with my copy on loan.
Carol explains that there are 4 main energy types. Type 1s have LOTS of ideas. Ideas flow out of type 1s like sap out of a maple tree in Spring. Of course, to the Type 1 personality, ALL of their ideas are GREAT.
It takes a Type 2 personality to take a look at the ideas and say "THAT'S A GREAT IDEA!" If you love a Type 1 energy person, you will make their day if you can see one of their ideas that truly is great and comment on it. Type 2's gift is looking at all of the ideas and picking the best one and make a plan of how to make that idea "Real."
Type 3 energy people then take the plans of the Type 2s and MAKE IT HAPPEN. They bring the idea and the plan into the physical realm. Because it looks like they really DID IT, people often mistakenly think that the Type 3 people did it all! Not so.
Now, type 4 people (which is what I am) take a look at what the type 3 people have made or done and say "WOW. That is TERRIFIC but it could be better if we just tweaked it here." As you might imagine, Type 4 people can become very unpopular if they don't use EXTREME CAUTION in handing out their advice.
This resistance to the Type 4 personality can lead to despair over time. In fact, I had a hard time admitting to myself that I have a type 4 energy. I'm thankful to God for showing me, when I was raising children, that they didn't have to do everything perfectly--that they were just learning. Aren't we all?
So God knows what He's doing when He creates a family, or a group, of all 4 of the energy types. He knows that EVERYONE has something to contribute for the well being of the group! It works so well when we all acknowledge the gifts of the others we live with or we work with.
It truly is beautiful to observe everyone working together to accomplish a task. No one person can do it all. We truly do need each other. I often think of how the Amish work together to raise a huge barn in a day or two. Have you ever seen a video of it? I'll see if I can find one.
So, as you read this devotional, it seems helpful to me to ponder which energy type God has made you. There's no fighting it. We can't change our basic energy to either create ideas, plans, projects or improvements. All are needed. All are important parts of the whole. That's the truth.
I hope this lifts you up, if you are in the slough of despond today. You can come to the Lord with your brokenness and ask Him to lift you up.
Hugs and prayers,
Dawn
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