Autumn Rising (A Prayer For the Discouraged)
(I have long thought of autumn as a season of new beginnings- the weather becoming crisp and invigorating, the falling of the leaves reminding us that things change and though some things begin their slumber, new possibilities may awaken, the holidays approaching…yet sometimes we may feel discouragement for any number of reasons. However, if we look to God, the creator of seasons, confess our feelings, thoughts, and doubts, with His help, we can find our faith rising during a season that many find melancholic and hopeless.)
Now that the heat and haughtiness of the summer are gone, my thoughts change to a season of coolness and endings. The chilling winds of doubt and disappointment blow through my soul threatening more despair. I am desperate for the fresh air of new thinking to fill my thoughts, and dare I say, a new beginning. To everything there is a season- a time to break down, a time to plant, to weep, and to mourn. Even with leaves dying and falling, signaling the end of their lives, could there be more? Room beyond just decay and melancholic memories whose pain lingers despite the years? Can I find the courage to choose more than I see, experience more than I feel? Can I convince my faith to awaken instead of commencing another hibernation amidst my heart’s shackles and despondency?
Merciful One and Ancient of Days, I pray for this season of the year’s twilight to be a time to build up, to pluck up that which is planted, to laugh, and even dance. I ask for new courage and a reviving of Your presence. Lift my head and remove the veil of discouragement to see the beauty of Your heart in the majesty of Your creation as the year descends into the darkness of winter. Remind me that You are light and love, that You make everything beautiful in Your time and in Your way. May Your purposes become mine and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight. My greatest need (among many) is to just be near You and hope again, despite my fears and failures, wasted years and misspent treasures. O soul, why are you cast down? Hope again in the God of goodness and hope, and praise Him; for He is the health of my countenance and my God, even as the days grow shorter. As autumn rises I will know the fullness of joy from a new beginning that will know no end. Amen.
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2 Comments
Jo Blogs
Hello Christopher,
Thank you for this post, “Autumn Rising (A Prayer For the Discouraged)”. Your writing here is so beautiful and deeply honest, and it resonated with me on so many levels.
Nearly all of what you wrote captures feelings I have on a daily basis—that struggle with “doubt and disappointment,” the weight of “fears and failures, wasted years,” and that overwhelming need to just be near God and hope again.
What also struck me was how powerfully you used those scriptures. Seeing you reference Ecclesiastes 3 (“a time to break down… a time to build up”), the “Ancient of Days” from Daniel 7, and that incredibly relatable cry from Psalms 42 & 43 (“O soul, why are you cast down?”) was a real focal point.
Those verses all resonate so deeply with me. It’s a powerful reminder that God’s Word is just as alive and relevant today as it has always been, speaking directly to our hearts.
Thank you for your vulnerability. It’s a true encouragement.
I have found the more I read your posts, the more I hear you describe how I feel at times. If you want me to add you to my prayers, please let me know.
(Hopefully the GoDaddy settings allow the comment through this time!)
Christopher Francis
Hi Jo. Thanks again for your interest in my writing and comments. This is a new type of poetry for me as it is a prose poem yet it is an honest prayer that I hoped would fit this time of year and God would encourage someone with. Despite what some say, you are correct that God’s Word is just as powerful and relevant today as it always was. After all, it is eternally alive and forever settled in Heaven. I try very hard to be honest in my writing but also to display the honesty of the Word. Even though I don’t feel obligated to mention the name of Jesus explicitly in everything I write, I have no hesitancy in using or quoting the Word in my work. (It is so deep, profound, rich, and very appropos for poetry especially.) Please do pray for me to grow closer to God, in spite of it all. Thanks.