Resources/Articles
Overcoming Discouragement
And let us not grow wearing in well-doing:
for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
Galatians 6:9
Discouraged Christians are witnessed in every congregation. Some always view things negatively. Others have no hope in fellow man or themselves. These people are weakened quickly. The most damaging effect of discouragement is a person’s aim. Without an aim, there is no place to go. Without a purpose, there is no need for concentration. Without a goal, no energy is expended. Without an aspiration, there is no effort toward working together with others. Discouragement will most certainly breed the spirit of indifference and laziness.
Here are some brief suggestions to overcome the slightest notion of discouragement:
(1) Meditate on scripture day and night (Psalm 1). Paul encouraged the elders of Ephesus by saying, “And now I commend you to God, and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you the inheritance…” (Acts 20:32). He exhorted the Thessalonians who were grieving over the death of brethren by saying, “Comfort one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:18). As you make a list of passages that apply to salvation and work of the church, make another list of verses which will comfort the bereaved, exhort the weak, admonish a parent, give heart to the elderly, or give hope to the suffering and worried.
(2) Faith. There is nothing to counteract discouragement better than trust in God. Faith gives us strength and removes weakness, doubt, and despair. Keep the faith. Hold it fast. Let it increase, not decrease.
(3) Self-control. Discouragement can and will control us. We must not allow ourselves to be its servant (Romans 6:17). There are things we cannot control, but we can master how we handle those situations which may often dishearten us. We can decrease the number of weary moments in our lives, if we react positively to negative circumstances.
(4) Spiritual Thinking. Our mind is the first to be affected by discouragement. The approach to overcoming is not by physical means. We must fill our minds with thoughts directing us toward what is noble and of good report (Philippians 4:8). Events in life may sadden or trouble us, but when our minds abide in spiritual things, we are renewed and determined (2 Corinthians 6:14-18).
(5) Intense action. Doing something for someone else deters discouragement. Discouragement usually makes us feel sorry for ourselves. Stop thinking about “poor me” and do something to cheer someone else (1 Thessalonians 5:12-18). It is hard to be discouraged when you are occupied with helping others.
Everyone has “moments” where negative thoughts will cause us to lose confidence in our abilities or doubt our efforts. with the above thoughts, discouragement is less likely to stay around.
