What to do When Feeling Discouraged
With so many people dealing with so many things, it’s easy to become overwhelmed. When everything around you seems to be falling apart, it can lead to you feeling discouraged. It happens to all of us at one point or another. I have seasons where I rise and immediately start praising God. I’m filled with excitement and can’t wait to get started. There are also times where I roll out of bed and feel as if I’ve only slept for fifteen minutes and I don’t want to face what seems like a mountain of tasks to deal with. Too many of those days lead to me feeling discouraged and wondering what is going on. Sometimes, things happen to us that we have no control over and it can lead to us feeling discouraged, we can’t see any way out of the situation. What should we do if we are feeling discouraged?
Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.
Psalm 42:5
Acknowledge Your Feelings
It is not known definitively who wrote this Psalm, but it is believed to be David. Regardless, the psalmist is dealing with inner turmoil. The first thing he does is acknowledge his feelings. Often, we pretend that things are fine. We are polished and perfect on the outside while we’re falling apart on the inside. It’s perfectly okay to make ourselves look good, but it is not okay to pretend that everything is going well. How can anyone help you if they don’t know there is a problem? How can you get help for a problem if you won’t admit there is a problem?
Put Your Hope in God
The second thing the psalmist did what to put his hope in God. God is our strength and fortitude.
9 The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. 10 And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.
Psalm 9:9-10 (ESV)
We need to put our hope and trust in God. It may seem that there is no way out of our situation. We must also be realistic about whatever we are going through. Because of sin, we must face the consequences of our actions and the actions of others around us. But God is with you. If He is for you, who can be against you?
Praise God
25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them,
Acts 16:25
When Paul and Silas were jailed for releasing the demon for the fortune telling girl, they were not bemoaning their fate. While in jail, they were praising and worshipping. Others were listening to them. We must remember to praise God in good times and the bad. How we feel doesn’t dictate whether or not we praise Him. God is good all the time and He deserves our praise all the time. We must take our focus off of ourselves and put it where it belongs, on God. Remember, as a Christian, others may be watching you. If you show them that you have no faith, they may see no value in God.
Remember your relationship with God
You are His and He is also Yours! You can go directly to Your Father with everything on your heart.
For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.
Psalm 95:7 (ESV)
A shepherd takes care of his flock. The illustration shows that He will take care of us. He will never leave you or forsake you. You are not alone in anything, God can strengthen you and guide you.
When you are feeling discouraged, acknowledged those feelings. Although we’d love to be happy and upbeat all the time, that’s not our reality. Pretending won’t help you. Giving it to God will.