Artist Living

Has Discouragement Already Visited You This New Year?

Me Ra Koh

Happy New Year everyone!  This is a long one that is unexpected.

black and white photo of sunrise in Egypt, Me Ra Koh

I find myself posting unexpectedly today when my plan was to start Monday, but something stopped me in my heart.  It has interrupted my day.  I have this deep churning in my spirit to write you today.  There is a single question I need to ask you today.  And it can’t wait because you are in the battle now.

Here is the question; Has Discouragement Already Visited You This New Year?

It’s only the beginning of the new year, but I have this heaviness in my heart–this pressing deep inside–that discouragement has already bombed some of you unexpectedly.  I can hear the voices swirling around you, taunting you, harassing you, trying to convince you that this discouragement, and this alone, is what you have to look forward to in the new year.  It’s as if the world is trying to prove to you in the first week that there isn’t any reason to get excited about a new start, a fresh year, a new beginning, because your old song will continue to play on.

For some of you, the discouragement is not a surprise because you have been pushing through for some time.  You have been fighting battles mentally and physically for years.  But for others, I have this sense that you have been unexpectedly bombarded in the last 48 hours with old lies, old voices, old tapes.  That even today some of yo have had unexpected events occur that stabs old pain, leading you to believe that nothing will ever change.  Without warning, you find yourself feeling upside down, afraid, doubtful and discouraged.

If you are connecting with this, and you don’t feel like this is crazy talk, I want you to take heart.  This struggle is evidence of what good awaits you.  You must know that voices of discouragement would not harass you unless your faith, your hope, your belief in the impossible was growing.  I have experienced over and over again this mysterious dynamic of breakthrough waiting on the other side of discouragement.  Even now as I write, I feel a fury in my hands–my spirit, a fury to fight for you in my heart, my prayers.  There is a battle for you to not believe, not hope, not desire, not even think the impossible is possible.  The battle is so strong because if you can be convinced of this the second day of the year, how much easier it will be to convince you in days to come.  At some point, there will be no need for convincing because you will have accepted a belief that this year will be like every other year before.

Despite all the noise around you.  Despite all the pain you may be feeling today.  I want to invite you to choose to believe that what you cannot see is more real than what you can see.  To believe that hope in what you can’t see, faith in what you can’t put your hands around, both of those things are more real, more alive, than any reminders of past pain, any threats that have bombarded you today, any mountains looming over you.  For some of us, choosing to believe in what we cannot see is a heart wrenching choice.  The taunting voices almost make us deaf.  But come to the quiet with me.  Come to the unknown.  Tell the kids, your spouse, you need a few minutes alone.  Set your smartphone timer for two minutes and be still.

In the stillness, ask for peace that passes understanding.

Ask for hope that believes in the impossible.

Ask for courage to ignore all the evidence that says you have no reason to hope.

Breathe in the stillness, exhale the noise.

Two minutes can change your whole day.  Two minutes of listening, being still, can change your whole year.

If you are already fighting for your hope in the coming year, take heart.  Clearly, much good is coming to you.  I am not sure who this is for, but I know it is for someone.  My day has been interrupted to sit and write this, and I know it’s because you cried out and God heard it.  You cried out for a sign that says you are worth fighting for, your future will not be a repeat of what today has been, and if you could only have some evidence that this is true…it’s you I’m writing too.

Breakthrough is on your horizon.  The impossible is about to show itself possible.

It isn’t to late to do this powerful exercise for yourself and this New Year.  Maybe today is the perfect day to do it.

xo,

m

*Feed your creative spirit hope, encouragement and inspiration in Me Ra’s Restart Your Creativity course.  Begins Jan. 20th 2016.

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  1. Paris says:

    Thank you. You are writing to me.

  2. Jennifer Pacheco says:

    Oh, Me Ra. How do you seem to pop in my life and say the things I need to hear when it matters most? I’ll never even begin to express how you’ve changed my heart, soul, and life. Thank You.

  3. BreAnna says:

    I have read this 3 times now. You probably haven’t seen my email to you yet, because I sent it just before you posted this on facebook. But, holy cow. I am so thankful for your encouraging words. I know there are so many others that will identify with it, but as I read this I truly felt like you were talking directly to me. Thank you!

  4. Julie Watts says:

    You are pretty amazing. I am unsure about this year which is TOTALLY out of the ordinary for me. I am ready inside for the uncertainty to play out. I feel prepared inside, no matter which path opens up for me, thanks to posts like these. 🙂

  5. Me Ra says:

    BreAnna, I just read your email and wish I could fly to you and give you the biggest hug. You are so beautiful and worthy of the best. Worthy to be loved and cherished. I am so thankful to have been blessed by you and your kind spirit.

    Thank you ladies for your wonderful, heartfelt words. We are in this together, and it’s powerful to know we don’t walk this out alone.

    Love you!

    xo,
    m

  6. I don’t know how you do it, but MeRa Koh at times seems to reach into my soul and brighten a light that is often flickering. For the last seven years MeRa, you have appeared around the bend on West road at the perfect moment. The several of those years I didn’t even know your name, which seems so strange to me. I have often found myself searching for you on these quite little streets, but you seemed to only be there when I need your smile the most. And there you were this morning…

    Even though I know the time is coming when you will be shinning your light on places and people all over the world and you won’t be coming around the bend at just the right moment, I know that if I look closely and listen quietly I will see your light and hear your laugh.

    My family and I can’t wait to see the world though your and Brian Tausend’s eyes. See you around the bend…

  7. Jamianne Shoemaker says:

    If this is any indication of what’s ahead for your online course, I know I’m in the right place. This speaks to me so powerfully today. Overcoming that constant voice saying things will never change for me has been an ongoing battle for nearly a decade. But I choose to believe that my breakthrough is just around the bend. Thank you, Me Ra

  8. Leigh says:

    I did need this! I received news today that is going to rip my family and marriage of over 10yrs apart. I’m reaching for understanding and faith that my beautiful childern will come out of this strong and know the love I have for them. My heart aches today but as I travel through a this wonderful world of online support I wAnt to reach out and say thank you:)

  9. Me Ra Koh says:

    I’m sitting by the fire after a busy evening. Reading your comments brings tears to my eyes. For some of you I can hear the utter heaviness of what you face, and I intimately know that feeling of knowing this test, this season, this pain will ask everything of me. Some of you have emailed and texted or commented today, and my heart breaks to hear what you are going through. We are so strong, and yet we are still the little girl inside who longs to be held, picked up and carried. May you feel held tonight, may you feel carried. May you feel a comfort wash over you. As you lay down to sleep, may you feel like a stone in a river’s bed being washed, cleansed and covered by healing waters. My heart is with you, lifting you each up.

    Rebecca, thank you for that sweet note. Made me cry. I read it to brian. I know we will be leaving in the next few months for a new adventure but how much harder it is to leave when you aren’t running away, when you dearly love the streets and especially people who surround you and make home truly home.

    Xo,
    M

  10. Adrea says:

    It’s me you are writing to! Thank you for the courageous words, words that fight off fear and timidity.