Ladies, do you get discouraged? I know I do. All of us deal with discouragement at some point in our lives. The definition of discourage is to deprive of courage or confidence. Some synonyms of discourage are dishearten, dismay, demoralize, and frustrate.
There are different levels of discouragement. Mild discouragement happens to most of us on a regular basis. This can be caused by minor problems in our daily lives that can affect our emotions but are usually not long-lasting and might not even be noticed by others. For me, discouragement happens when my expectations are not met. I expect certain things to happen a certain way, and when they don’t go how I expect, I get frustrated, disappointed and feel let down.
Joshua 1:9
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.
Strong discouragement happens when we are faced with more serious problems. Others probably notice when we experience this kind of discouragement. We will likely have physical or emotional indications that others can observe. We may lose sleep because we are worried. Strong discouragement can lead to doubt and feelings of despair. It’s important to get a handle on this before it turns into a more serious matter, because occasionally, strong discouragement can turn into disabling discouragement (depression) which makes us feel hopeless and physically and mentally exhausted. I’ve been here. Discouraged. Depressed. Hopeless. It’s a dark, dark place and it’s a terrible thing to feel that God doesn’t love you or care about you. It’s disabling. It’s crushing.
Discouragement can happen for various reasons, and always comes from Satan. The key is to recognize your triggers. Know when your emotions are sensitive and susceptible to going off the railroad. Satan loves to discourage—to attack our minds and make us feel useless, but God commands us to ENcourage. Put courage into. Build up. Strengthen.
Deuteronomy 31:8
The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
My counselor showed me an exercise to do when I get triggered. I hold my hands out in front of me face up. My feelings are in one hand. My actions are in the other hand. The space in the middle of them is my opportunity to weigh the truth. If my feelings jump directly to action (hands clasp), I usually end up in a place of discouragement because I will more than likely react badly. I let my feelings rule. Instead, I have to remind myself to be slow to react. I take a deep breath and process my feelings before I allow them to dictate my emotions. Speak truth to myself. Sometimes, ladies, we have to encourage ourselves. Quote Scripture. Isn’t that what Jesus did when Satan came at Him? He simply quoted Scripture. Take the time to write out a few verses that will encourage you when life, people and situations discourage you. Memorize them and say them out loud when you get down.
It took me a long time to come out of my depression the first time it hit me. Years. I went through the motions of living, but deep down, I wanted to go to sleep and never wake up again. Thankfully, I didn’t give up my quiet time with the Lord during that season, but it still took me a couple of years to finally accept that God loved me and had good plans for me.
If you struggle with discouragement or depression, there is hope. I recommend you find a Christian counselor to help you process your feelings. Be sure the counselor is a Bible believer and Christ follower. There are a lot of people who claim to be Christian counselors but do not have a clue what the Bible says. Stay away from them! If you aren’t sure about what to look for, try checking out Focus on the Family’s website and let them help you find a counselor. https://www.focusonthefamily.com/get-help/counseling-services-and-referrals/
Jesus said we will have trouble in this world. Unfortunately, we will get discouraged. We will face trials and stress and persecution. But take heart! He offers His perfect peace and He has overcome the world! We are victorious!
Look up some Psalms and see how David dealt with his discouragement. Isaiah went through it, and so did Job. You are not alone. Life is hard. Being a mama is hard. Being a wife is really hard. But there is so much good in those things. Every good thing in your life comes from God. If you can only name one thing that is good right now, write it down and thank God for it.
Reach out here and I’ll be happy to pray with you and for you and I hope I can offer you some encouragement to keep on pressing on!
