Have you ever felt discouraged?  If not, stop reading this. If so, read on…

With the end of the year coming in just a few days, we’re all taking stock of our wins and losses, successes and failures, goals achieved and those still out of reach.  As you assess your year-almost-past you’re sure to find areas where you’ve fallen short– where you wish you’d accomplished more, done better, been able to…

It’s discouraging when you think you’re doing well, only to find out someone else has accomplished five times as much as you in less than a fifth of the time.  And, they’ve already arrived at a level of success you’re just still dreaming of.

It’s discouraging when you attend an online webinar where everyone’s using video, so you feel like you have to as well.  But their backgrounds all show well-apportioned office rooms, unlike yours.  Never mind the fact that the person in front of the camera probably looks more sophisticated, confident, handsome/beautiful, than you.  Or, at least wiser!

It’s even more discouraging face-to-face when you find out all that wasn’t just an online image!  Then come the stories others share—the ones about all the great results they got, followers clamoring for their attention, invitations they’ve received to speak, etc.  Yeah, there may be a few, like you, who, eyes downcast, don’t dare to share after that, and look as discouraged as you feel.  But that’s not encouraging (unless you revel in other people’s misery)!  You probably feel as sorry for them as you do for yourself!

“Yeah, guess I’m not the only one who can’t…  (grow my business/church; gain victory over…; get the opportunity to…; find anyone interested in what I have to offer; win; accomplish;…).

I’ve been there—in that domain of discouragement.  We all have.  Perhaps recently.  Perhaps now.

Dwelling in that domain is– discouraging– especially with the giant of discouragement guarding it with a brandished sword, daring us to “make his day” by trying to escape.

How do we disarm discouragement?  How do we find freedom, hope, and renewed motivation?

First— Realize where it comes from:

• Comparison—we feel good about our lives until we see someone who’s doing/has it “better”. Here’s what the Bible (has the best psychological advice out there), says about comparing:  “But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding” (2 Cor. 12:10).

This is a polite way of saying it’s stupid and unproductive to compare!  Why?  Because when we do, we’ll either come out feeling inferior and discouraged, or proud and arrogant. Which leads to messed up minds, relationships, and wrong thinking/action (in other words, sin).

• Lies—Satan, aka “The father of lies”, will plant thoughts in our heads that we believe because we thought them. (Jn. 8:44) But, as my dear husband often reminds me, “You don’t have to believe everything you think!” And the enemy doesn’t make the lie obvious, any more than counterfeiters make fake money obviously phony.

How do we discern the real from the fake?  How do we discern the truth about ourselves, the Lord, and our situation from the lie?  By focusing on the real, the truth, enough to be able to tell when something isn’t it!  Knowing, and living by, the truth sets us free (Jn. 8:32)

It also helps to remember that facts do not equal truth.  For example:  Fact—You didn’t get invited to something.  Truth—You are NOT a reject!  You are the beloved of God and many others, with great inherent value.  Someone just didn’t recognize that.  Their loss.

Second—Arm yourself with God’s promises—the ones that assure of His love, that He will fulfill His purpose for us, that He will supply our needs, that He will enable us to do what we need to, and so on.  His Word is our sword (Eph. 6:17), and these promises are the key that unlocks the prison-door of discouragement.  (Anyone needing specific promise references can contact me).

Third— Talk with someone wise and trustworthy who loves you – they represent God.  Don’t go it alone.  Cry for “HELP!”  That’s why Eccles. 4:9-12 tells us “Two are better than one… if either falls, the other will lift them up…”

Fourth— Listen to the Lord and let Him show you the specifics—instances, truths, experiences.  For David, in the Bible, about to face the giant Goliath in battle, he remembered taking on and finishing off lions and bears with God’s help.  Goliath?  “Piece of cake”!  (1 Sam. 17:34-37)

Finally, consider this:  How many of those “put together” people with confident faces, beautiful backgrounds, and huge success stories have ever felt discouraged?  Or are discouraged now?  They have people to compare themselves to and inner voices that tell them they should be doing better.  There’s always a bigger fish in every lake—unless you’re it—and then you’re in the biggest danger of being caught and eaten!

There’s always something we can do better and improve on. We haven’t arrived. But that needn’t discourage us.  Rather, let it encourage us to “…press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me…” (Phil. 3:12-14)