In this blog post, I’m going to talk about when you feel discouraged! We’re going to look at when you feel discouraged Christian perspective, and what you can do. But first…
What makes you feel discouraged or disengaged? I know when I’m discouraged I FEEL like scarfing and binging on my favorite food or a big glass of wine, but is that the best for me?
We all know the answer to that question, but there are some things we can do for ourselves to help our moods when we feel discouraged.
Recognize The Enemy
First of all we need to recognize that the devil is toying with our mind! The devil’s greatest tool is the wedge of discouragement. He wants us discouraged because then we lose our zest for life. He wants to bring us down and have us become someone we don’t like because it keeps us from carrying out our purpose. The enemy comes to destroy us. Scripture says in John 10:10-11 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy” and he does a pretty good job, wouldn’t you say?
The verse doesn’t end with those words though. The bible goes on to give us hope for when you feel discouraged!
“I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
John 10:110-11 (NIV)
Wake Up And Realize That We Are Victorious
This news is to encourage our hearts and souls, to counteract the devil. The devil doesn’t have to defeat us. In fact, even when you feel discouraged, you can defeat the enemy! It’s time to wake up and realize that we are victorious.
So often it only takes one negative comment to make our mood spiral into the toilet. Maybe this has happened to you in the past.
Let’s Look At A Quick Scenario
You’ve bought a new outfit and you love it. You’re hoping everyone else will think it looks good on you as well. Your friend says it’s beautiful on you; your hubby says you look first-class in it, and you receive so many compliments you know you chose a great outfit.
Then you go to a party in your new outfit and again, you receive a pile of compliments and you’re feeling really good about your outward appearance in your new outfit. You step out in confidence and feel that confidence surge running through you. Throughout the evening you continue to receive many more compliments, but then BOOM! Your world comes crashing down and the negative thoughts stream into your mind. One person said something that hit a nerve…
“I don’t think that style looks the best on you!”
Maybe they said something worse, like “too bad it’s a little too tight on you!”
Yikes! I’m sure you know what I’m talking about. If you’ve ever had any negative comments thrown at you, then this resonates with you.
These negative comments make you doubt all the previous compliments you received. That one negative comment floods your mind and soul. You feel your confidence drain from your body and you want to crumple up in a heap in the corner and die!
Our minds continually go to that one person who hurt us, and we can’t think clearly. We can’t move past it! That one negative statement fills our head with doubt rather than allowing ourselves to bask in all the beautiful compliments that made us feel better about ourselves.
So what now?
What do we do and how do we move forward?
When You Feel Discouraged Bible Verse
Here’s the thing! We can’t control the first thunderbolt thought that rushes into our mind, but we can certainly take that thought captive and bind it up and cast it down at the foot of the cross. Have you done that recently?
It’s so simple. It’s so promising! It’s what Christ asks us to do! Matthew 11:28-30 says:
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)
We are supposed to go to Him with our hurts, doubts and fear. Why do we keep those thoughts ruminating in our minds? Why do we linger on the negative? Why don’t we throw them down and take those thoughts captive?
2 Corinthians 10:5 says:
“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
2 Corinthians 10:5 (NIV)
What Does Taking Thoughts Captive Mean?
Taking our thoughts captive means to bind them or imprison them. When we keep thinking about those negative thoughts, they end up harming us. This becomes a chronic pattern that holds us prisoner in our own minds. The more we think about it, the more negative we become. The more we ruminate on it, the more it spirals us into doubting who we are in Christ. The more we dwell on the one negative thought, the more the enemy has a hold on us.
So let’s recognize that this is the devil trying to defeat us. It’s a battle tactic, but we have the battle armor and the power to overcome and be victorious. Remember Jesus has come so that we may have life, and have it to the full!
So let’s give it to Him and trust Him to fill us with thoughts that are pure and good and righteous and noble and let’s memorize this verse.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.
Philippians 4:8 (NIV)
By following these words of Jesus, we can defeat the enemy. It’s really up to us! We CAN Win the War in our minds. Do we want to be victorious?
Prayer For When I Feel Discouraged
Here is a prayer that I use, and you can use when you feel discouraged:
Dear Heavenly Father,
I come to you right now with a heart full of despair. I know I’m supposed to trust you in every area of my life and I know in my heart that you are a Good, good Father, but today I’m feeling very discouraged.
I feel like such a failure, yet I know I’m supposed to have strength and joy from You to live well today. I’m struggling…and I feel like no one understands my situation.
So Lord, I come humbly before you now. I surrender every area of my life to you, even the circumstances I’m going through right now. I cast all my cares down before you and ask that you lift me up. I ask for strength today. Help me find the answers I need. Please help me walk through the door of encouragement so I can close the door of discouragement behind me.
I know that discouragement is a tool that the devil is using to keep me stuck, but I know that I am more than a conqueror through Christ who strengthens me.
I claim the truths from Your Word; renew my spirit so I can rise above my challenges, as the eagle rises above the winds of storm.
Isaiah 40:31 says, “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.”
I pray that you will help me soar and not grow weary today. Thank you for loving me unconditionally. In the powerful and precious name, Jesus…Amen.
If you’re like every woman I know, your answer is a resounding Yes. So let’s claim the words of Jesus today and live as those we have won.
Remember…You Are A Woman Chosen For Greatness and we BELIEVE in You!!!
Ruth Verbree