Have you ever felt discouraged?  If not, stop reading this.  But my guess is, since you’ve been alive long enough to be able to read, you’ve felt discouraged!  We all have.

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

Then come the stories others share—the ones about all the great results they got, hundreds of social media and blog followers loving their posts, speaking invitations they’ve received, testimonies of personal and spiritual growth, etc.

Ok, there may be a few, like us, who, eyes downcast, don’t dare to share after that, and look as discouraged as we feel.  But that’s not encouraging (unless we revel in other people’s misery)!  We probably feel as sorry for them as we do for ourself!

“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.  Recently.  In fact, as recently as last week.  Trapped– with the giant of discouragement guarding it with a brandished sword, daring you 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:

1) Comparing—we feel good about our lives until we see someone who’s doing/has it “better”.  Here’s what the Bible 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).

2) 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 he 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)