- Exodus
15: 22-27
Steps to Overcoming Discouragement
When we feel hopeless about
our future and circumstances it is easy for discouragement to take over. We have to look beyond this cloud of despair
to God for true help and the promise of a better future.
When discouragement does set
in, there are several things you can do to overcome:
• Pray – Remember who God is and the
power He holds. He is a loving God who
is consistent in character and it is His character to help His children. He wants you to talk to Him, even though He
already knows your every need. Pour out
your heart to Him in honesty and ask Him to open your eyes to see your
circumstances clearly, and to see what He wants you to see. Ask Him for
patience to endure until you learn all you are supposed to learn. Wait
on the Lord be of good courage and He shall strengthen thine heart. Wait I say on the Lord. Psalm 27:14
• Fill up your Spiritual Tank – Take
some time to renew your relationship with God.
Rest in the comfort of His love and give yourself time to heal. Set up a time to have a daily devotional or
maybe join a Bible Study group if you feel ready. It is great to find someone you trust to be an
accountability partner and ask them to pray with you and for you during this
time. Now is not the time to sink back
into the woodwork and disappear. Go to
church so you can have fellowship with other Christians. You need their support and love and some of
them may be going through the same thing you are.
• Take Care of Yourself Physically –
If you need a break, take one. Now is
the time to heal physically as well as spiritually. Rest, feed your body, and recover from the
toll that stress takes on the body.
Protect this time for yourself.
You may have to actually make yourself a priority over someone else for
a change.
• Refocus - Stop. Think about where
you are and where you want to go. Then put
one foot in front of the other and move.
Some days you will have to force yourself, but you will not get better
if you don’t move toward God. Begin to
perform the simple tasks that are so very important such as feeding the dog,
taking care of the kids, doing the laundry.
It will feel good to accomplish something. You must put one foot in front of the other
and move.
• Resist – Satan will always be
waiting to discourage you. Pray for strength
to resist these attacks. Expect that
there will be disappointments in life again and again and be ready. Remember that God is with you even in the
most lonely, discouraging moments.
Choose to trust God in the face of fear and ask Him for the courage to
fulfill His purposes for you. Remember,
He is in control of your life and He does have a plan for you. He may not change our circumstances the way
we want Him to, but He will give you the encouragement you need to overcome.
Above all these other strategies the
most important thing in improving your ability to handle disappointment and
discouragement is to face more of it. In the midst of the driest desert stands the Saguaro
cactus. It is able to remain flexible
and fresh because it stores enough water to get through the dry times. It
not only survives, but it provides the only refreshment in the desert during
times of drought. We need to store up resources so that when
discouragement hits next time, we have
Don’t be afraid to take more
risks and fall down again. You will come
out stronger each time. Reward yourself
for attempts even if the outcome is not what you expect. Find value in the effort!
Scripture to Claim
Let us not lose
heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.
Galatians 6:9
