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“I have never been discouraged,” said no person ever, and if those words were ever spoken, it was probably a bold-faced lie. No matter who we are or where we are from, we have all faced feeling discouraged in one form or another.
More specifically, in 2020, it seems as though a dark cloud of discouragement has hovered over the hearts of many. Life is not the same. Transitions are happening at what feels like the speed of light. For some, staying positive can feel unimaginable. I get it!
While I empathize with all those dealing with discouragement, I’m also not here to throw a pity party. As your gal pal, I’m here to pull you out of that rut of feeling discouraged so that you do not have to wallow for one second longer.
What Is Discouragement?
Before we get into it, let’s have a quick English lesson. I promise it’s not as painful as your high school essay preps ?.
The prefix “dis” is generally used to give the word an opposite meaning.
For Example:
“Dislike” is the opposite of like.
“Disown” is the opposite of owning.
Therefore, in the literal sense, Dis-couraged is the opposite of having courage. Whenever you are in a place of discouragement, it is a clear sign that (for whatever reason) “courage” has left you.
Usually, the root of discouragement or loss of courage is “fear.” More specifically, the fear of failure.
When a person perceives that their fear is becoming a reality, it leads to uncertainty, which then triggers discouragement.
Think about it. Have you ever noticed discouragement only rears its ugly head at certain times? You know, after something goes wrong.
- When you failed at something.
- When life is not going the way you planned.
- When you suffered a loss.
- When you compare yourself to other
You see, all those various situations that many of us undoubtedly faced are induced by fear.
The person that failed at something is feeling discouraged because they are afraid they will keep failing. The same is true for the person that is discouraged because life isn’t going as planned. That person feels like they are failing at achieving a life they will enjoy.
The good news is just as you can lose courage; you can also gain courage or let courage in. You can be en-couraged.
How To Beat Discouragement
If we want to beat discouragement, and I mean really beat discouragement, we have to get to the root. Starting with learning how to face your fears and conquer them.
True story…
I am a big fan of roller coaster rides. At least in theory. I’m that person who is hyped to get on the roller coaster ride only to regret it the moment I buckle my seat belt. It’s almost as if the moment I am seated, fear comes and takes a seat right next to me.
My inner voice would begin to screech, “Let me off this ride!” but since I paid good money to be in that seat, you bet I would talk right back to that screeching voice of fear.
I would remind myself that this carnival ride or roller coaster is safe. There is no way I will fall off this ride because the theme park would never want a lawsuit of that magnitude. I would remind myself that the theme park or carnival is too invested to allow anything bad , which can tear down all that they have built, to happen.
As I have this miniature counseling session with myself, that feeling of fear usually gets up out of the seat next to me and walks right off the roller coaster ride.
In those moments, I faced my fears and conquered it by talking back to fear. I spoke truth rather than fear and made a choice not to be fearful. The choice started by me not sitting down in fear but rather creating a strategy to fight back through action.
Make A Choice
Don’t think your girl is wild for saying this, but you can do the same.
One of my favorite passages in the Bible is when God told Joshua to “Be Strong and Courageous.” (Joshua 1:7). To my surprise, this phrase or similar phrases can be seen several times throughout the scriptures.
In many ways, God constantly tells His people to be courageous, not to be discouraged, or to have courage.
These persons had a choice. They could have chosen to be courageous or stay in a state of fear, which would undeniably keep leading them back to discouragement.
Let’s be honest. Joshua had every reason to be fearful and let those giants live their best lives in Canaan. Instead, he made a choice to be filled with courage. In Joshua’s case, being courageous (and conquering fear) meant first facing His fears. He proceeded to the promised land, despite what he felt.
For you facing and conquering your fears (and ultimately beating discouragement) may have another corresponding action—actions like reciting truths over those feelings of fear, like I did.
The truth is you are not a failure. The truth is God has a plan for your life. The truth is seasons change. The truth is God loves you. The truth is you do not have to fear failure or anything else, because your Heavenly Father has your back.
Let’s try this. Decide in your heart right now. Despite what is going on around you or how difficult life seems, you will face your fears and not be swallowed up by feeling discouraged. Instead, you will shake that feeling off, resist fear like you are resisting temptation, talk back to that fear of failure, and continue to work towards whatever it is God has placed in your heart.
Put Your Trust In God
What I love about God is that He does not leave us hanging. Each time God told Joshua or someone else to be courageous, He also gave them reasons why they should be.
That reason always boiled down to this…. “because God was with them.”
It’s no secret that when the walls of discouragement begin closing in, it is because we have taken our eyes off of God and back onto our circumstances.
- The fact that we failed
- The fact that we are in pain
- The fact that we do not have enough
And the list can be endless.
For discouragement to lose its power, you and I must constantly remind ourselves that our battles do not belong to us. Our battles belong to God, and He will never leave us.
For that reason alone, you do not have to fear or be discouraged. God is with you!
You do not have to be afraid to fail because God will work it all together for your good no matter the outcome.
I get that for some people, this may feel hard. However, some practical steps you can take to build your trust in God is:
- Reciting God’s promises over your life
- Reading your Bible consistently.
- Spending time venting praying to God.
The more you trust God, the less room discouragement will have in your heart.
Let Courage In
I am a firm believer that whatever you feed will grow. That does not only apply to our waistline ???.
This includes feelings such as fear and discouragement. You can actually feed courage by feeding yourself content and information that encourages you. Actually, the literal definition of ‘encourage’ is to let courage in.
Think of some ways you can let courage in.
For me, it’s listening to the testimony of those that have conquered what I am going through, talking to a close friend that I know can impart sound wisdom, or reading a good book to develop me in my area of weakness,
How about you? What are some things that constantly encourage you?
Lastly…
If you are immensely feeling discouraged during this season, I’m sending you lots of virtual hugs and praying for you. I’m always a message away.
Until next time,
Be strong, Be courageous, Serve God Wholeheartedly
