Have you ever had a day at work that left you dejected? Maybe you were turned down for a promotion, or maybe your idea didn’t get approved. Or maybe there was tension on the team that you were a part of. Maybe you made a mistake that cost the organization money. Whatever the situation, it left you down. 

For me personally, these things come in waves. I have seasons where it seems like I just keep getting lower and lower. As those seasons come, and they will, we can find ourself with A Dejected Heart.

Sometimes we struggle in these seasons because:

We think we are pioneers but our wagon wheels roll in the ruts of those who have gone before us.

Ecclesiasties 1:9-10

That means that somewhere, someone has walked the path you are walking.

1. Look for people who have gone before you in real life

2 Corinthians 1:3-7

2. Look for people who have gone before you in scripture 

Ezra 

• We need to be reconciled to Christ ourselves (Ezra 9:3-5)
• In order to do that, we need to know God’s word. (Ezra 9:10-12)
• We must be willing to Obey what it says. (Ezra 7:10)
• We must be willing to direct others back into right living. (Ezra 10:10-11)
• Show grace in the process (Ezra 9:13)

Ezra and Nehemiah

• You will find things in your life that need to be rebuilt
• When you find something that needs to be rebuilt, pray first
• When you start rebuilding, expect opposition
• You can’t always rebuild on your own.
• God will not abandon you
• Your enemies will eventually lose confidence
• The Job isn’t going to be easy

3. Make sure you are disconnecting when you can

• Put your phone away 
  • Focus on one thing at a time, and full invest in it. 
• Look at people in the eye
• Waste time 
  • Efficiency can add to dejection by making you think time spent resting and relaxing is a waste of time. 

God is faithful to complete his work. 

Philippians 1:6

We aren’t finished yet, thus God has not yet completed what he is working on. This is a part of that process, and likely the hardship will move you closer to completion.