Monday, August 30, 2021
Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God. Psalm 42:11
When Discouragement Sets In...
Everywhere we turn right now it seems we can only see bad and sad things going on in our world. Not only are things seemingly hopeless for the most part, throw some fear into the mixture too and the future is looking grim. 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. We cannot focus on what is happening around us and find hope and a cure for discouragement. The times are extremely discouraging and this is exactly why looking to circumstances for hope will fail us every time. Circumstances change and the ground shifts and breaks open beneath our feet just when we think we have gained secure footing, but our God never changes. Focus on Him!
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.
Satan uses discouragement to get into our hearts and minds. If he can do that, he can cause all kinds of destruction in our lives, so we must stay vigilant against letting him in. Take every thought captive - every thought that brings discouragement and hopelessness into your heart and mind -and give them to God. Take your hopelessness and feelings of discouragement to Him and ask Him for hope, courage, and strength in return.
