How I Solve Discouragement and You Can Too
You win this battle, one day at a time.
Everyone feels discouraged at some point. Just realizing that is an important step in getting past it.
At one level, we know everyone feels discouraged; but when we’re feeling it, especially when it hits us hard, we have the tendency to forget that.Feelings of discouragement are very common.
Our feelings are not facts, but they are powerful.
Part of personal growth and spiritual maturation is knowing how to handle temptations and harmful feelings.
There are many techniques that have proven helpful to people and it generally takes some experimentation to see what works best for us individually. Here are a few tips that have helped me and I trust can help you as well.
1. I write Scriptures and statements based on emotional and spiritual battles I regularly face.
1 Corinthians 10:13, ESV tells us that every temptation we face is “common to man” and that God is faithful to provide a way of escape so that we can endure it.”
All temptations are common to man, but some temptations are more common to us than others.
Everyone feels discouraged, but for some of us, it is a regular thing. .
Ephesians 6:11, ESV says, “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.”
If we put on God’s armor, we can stand against and defeat the devil’s schemes. If we don’t put on the armor, we won’t.
The devil has schemes. He develops individualized attacks against us because he wants to kill, steal, and destroy us. (John 10:10a)
Not every negative emotion is a demonic attack, but some are. And even those that are not often come from the law of sin and death that is active in our fallen world. (Romans 8:1–2, ESV)
Feeling hopeless and discouraged is not God’s plan for us. The kingdom of God is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. (Romans 14:17b, ESV)
Be proactive
If discouragement is a consistent problem for you, write Scriptures you can use to renew your mind (preventative) and use specifically when those feelings or temptations come.
2. Based on those Scriptures and Statements I remind myself of a few things:
One: Everyone feels discouraged at times.
Two: Nothing great is achieved easily.
Three: I don’t have to let discouragement win. Jesus said several times, “Do not let your heart be troubled…” (John 14:1, ESV is one example).
I do not have to let discouragement settle into my mind. I can do something about it.
Scriptures like:
“Through faith and patience we inherit the promises.” (Hebrews 6:12b, ESV)
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be known to God. And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6–7)
There are many more Scriptures and statements you can write that you can use to get rid of the source of the discouragement (bring it to God), then pray with thanksgiving. God promises then to send His peace, which will guard both our hearts and minds in Jesus.
3. Read and act on Hebrews 3:13
Hebrews 3:12–13, ESV is very enlightening, “Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.(13) But exhort (encourage) one another every day as long as it is called today,’ that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.”
Even though we are believers in Jesus, it encourages us to stay spiritually alert to things that tempt us to doubt God and His word. Unbelief is one of the biggest, if not the biggest, barrier to connecting with God and receiving His promises.
That’s one reason the writer of Hebrews calls it “evil.” Unbelief leads us away from God, faith leads us to Him.
We can do something about it.
Even when “feelings” of doubt and unbelief are strong, we can take steps to defeat those discouraging feelings.
We can be part of a small group who encourages and exhorts each other regularly. This passage even says, “daily.”
Sin is deceitful, it makes things appear different from how they really are. It hardens the heart and in some form or another; it comes every day.
One of God’s biggest antidotes for the hardening of heart, deceitfulness of sin attack is DAILY encouragement and exhortation.
Sometimes we feel alone in our temptations and feelings of discouragement. How powerful could it be to be part of a group that would encourage each other daily in their faith, their dreams, and their discipleship?
That is what Scripture prescribes. To keep our hearts tender, trusting, believing, and drawing close to God, it’s important to get regular encouragement and exhortation.
Those are three things that help me “solve” or deal with discouragement.
I trust at least some of them will be of help to you as well.
Feelings of discouragement will never go completely away, but we can learn to manage and get victory over those destructive feelings.
I have never met a person who is “too encouraged.” The downward pull of sin and the consistent attacks of Satan are part of this life.
The great news is that, though feelings of discouragement cannot be permanently vanquished, those feelings can be controlled and defeated.
I’m developing a way to be part of community and receive daily encouragement. If that interests you, please email me at mrkfurlong@gmail.com and I’ll give you the details.
If you want more spiritual growth and living your purpose resources, head over to www.TruVineMission.com and have a look.
