I was in a funk.

“I didn’t know it would be this hard to make friends.” 

“It’s stifling hot.”

“I can’t find a good hair salon.”

My husband, daughter and I had just moved from Mississippi to the exciting city of Houston and all I could do was grumble.

The move had been hard. I hadn’t made any friends yet. We had visited several churches but still hadn’t found the right fit. Our daughter was struggling to find her place at a new high school that was massive compared to the one she’d attended  in our hometown.

 

Grumbling

 

Then, one morning I sat alone in our study and opened my Bible to this:

 

…but the people became impatient because of the journey.  

Numbers 21:4

 

God’s people had been in the wilderness for nearly 40 years. Life had been hard, yet God had graciously provided everything they’d needed. Then, when they discovered they’d have to take a long, unexpected detour because a ruthless king wouldn’t let them travel through his country, it was the last straw.

They began to grumble.

Before long, they were complaining about EVERYTHING.

“No bread…no water…and we can’t stand this yucky food!”

Seriously? After all God had done?? He’d rained down food (manna) from heaven, for crying out loud!

 

GRUMBLING IN A FUNK

 

It’s easy to judge the Israelites for being in a funk until I realize I’m more like them than I care to admit.

When life gets frustrating, my natural response is to look at my situation and complain.

According to the Bible, the miraculous bread God fed the Israelites in the wilderness was more than food. It was also a representation of Jesus Christ, the Bread of Life who came down from heaven (John 6:51). Although Jesus had not yet come to earth in bodily form, the manna in the wilderness provided a powerful picture of the Messiah that God would eventually provide.

In the meantime, God Himself was with them.

Yet, the frustrated Israelites said it wasn’t enough.

And that’s how I’m a lot like them. Even though I know Jesus is with me, I gripe and grumble as though He’s not.

That day in my study, I suddenly felt just like one of those Israelites in the wilderness.

A spoiled brat who only wanted more.

HOW TO GET OUT OF A FUNK

 

I needed an attitude adjustment.

Here was my plan for how to get out of a funk:

First, I reminded myself that God is sovereign. He had allowed me to move to Houston and He would work in my life there. As surely as He had led the Israelites, He was leading me, too.

Next, I remembered that God had not left me. God has never left His people and He promised that He never will. Even though I felt alone, the truth is, God’s presence was right there with me.

Finally, I decided to stop fixating on my less-than-perfect circumstances and start thanking God for all He’d already done for me.

To put it simply, I started counting my blessings.

And I was reminded that you can’t count your blessings and complain at the same time.

God went on to bless our lives in Houston (my favorite place ever!) beyond what we could ever have dreamed or imagined.

But not until after my funk had ended.

 

3 TIPS FOR HOW TO GET OUT OF A FUNK QUICKLY

 

If you find yourself wondering how to get out of a funk, try the steps that worked for me:

1. Remember that God is sovereign.

He knows the circumstances you’re in and He knows how they’ll pan out. So talk to Him about it and be honest with Him. Pour out your frustrations, worries, and concerns and ask Him to help you see things from His perspective.

 

2. Take comfort in knowing God is with you.

The Bible says there’s nowhere a Christian can go that God is not. His power and His presence live in you.

 

3. Count your blessings.

Start with the basics if you need to (like the air you’re breathing!) and thank God for every single blessing in your life. Write them down if you want to. Just keep counting.

How to get out a funk is easier than it seems.  Try these steps and let me know if your funk has already begun to lift 🙂