Discouragement Is A Choice

How do we overcome the cloudiness of mind and vision? What do we do when we can no longer see further than the very moment we are in? Sometimes these moments seem longer than necessary. For some, these moments aren’t even a day or two but weeks or months. Discouragement seems to be one of the enemy's largest tactics. It devours every bit of hope and blinds you from all-purpose.

I’d have to admit in full transparency that I was so discouraged. Discouragement has come in full force and I have allowed it to distract me and flood my mind. It kept me still and bound in fear. I allowed myself to become focused and overwhelmed with discouragement. See, discouragement happens when we let it. Discouragement happens when we allow ourselves to diminish ourselves, our gifts, our purpose in life, and in many cases our faith. It happens when we allow ourselves to be overworked. When we allow ourselves to fear. When we allow ourselves to give into being complacent.

There is one key principle we need to note. Disappointment and discouragement are different. Disappointment can happen as a reaction to something not going or being executed according to plan. Discouragement is a lack of foundation in specific areas according to where you are feeling discouraged. Disappointment is a momentary reaction but discouragement is the way we choose to live past the reaction. It is absolutely okay to admit that you have been disappointed. In fact, it is expected to happen because we live in a human world. Admitting your disappointment is key to your personal growth and to achieving the goal you are aiming for whether it be relational, task-oriented, or organizational. It also helps to prevent discouragement. Discouragement on the other hand is a choice. The problem with discouragement is that we tend to reflect it upon others as their fault when the reality is we choose to live discouraged. What others cause is a disappointment but your choice to live discouraged is entirely based upon your lack of foundation in a personal area of growth.

I believe there are specific foundations in life that deeply influence the way you live and sure there are some that you can add or take away. However, I believe that when you are battling with discouragement there is a lack in the foundation in these four categories: self-care, family, faith, and identity.

If you lack in your foundation of self-care you may have problems drawing a line between work and home. Maybe you have yet to understand the concept of rest. In physical form, maybe you haven't taken good care of yourself and aren't happy. You probably outwork yourself for the sake of your title.

If you lack in your foundation of family, maybe you are dealing with unforgiveness of past events or traumas. Maybe you haven't healed from past hurts regarding your childhood and are carrying that over into all other relationships and expectations of your future.

If you lack a foundation of faith you may have problems figuring out your purpose in life. You may be experiencing hurt from the church. You maybe have no personal union with Christ and just have a routine of attending a Sunday morning service. You could probably be very judgemental of everything in the church or people in general because of anger in the expectation of what you thought salvation was or how you thought God actually worked.

If you lack a foundation of identity you probably feel invalidated by others or feel consistently unseen. You may feel alone or like an outcast and like everything you do has no value. You are never satisfied with your outcomes or you placed too much value on your work and not enough on yourself.

The truth of the matter, and let's be very real, discouragement has every bit to do with YOU. You are going to have to shift your mindset, and take the action to forgive or change how you do things. You will have to do some self-reflecting and acknowledge the wounds in your heart or trauma from the past. You are going to have to call out the disappointment that was inflicted and you have to let it go. You probably read that and are now asking why. Why should I do that? How about this...

How about a different perspective?

Discouragement is causing a fear of no expectation, dream, or goal ever being met. In other terms, no God-given promise is ever being kept. Therefore, your discouragement, or your choice to live discouraged, is causing you to choose to diminish God's word and his faithfulness to fulfill the promises and plans He has declared over you.

Fear will hinder you from reaping what is yours because you simply don't believe. I would argue fear is unbelief ( topic for another time).

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. - Galations 6:9

In the Passion translation, it says, " ... for the season of reaping the wonderful harvest you've planted IS COMING." However you choose to read this verse, it NEVER says you will not reap. We need to remember that God is faithful to his promises and therefore when we believe He truly is who He says He is discouragement cannot tell us otherwise.

If we are faithless, he remains faithful - for he cannot deny himself. - Timothy 2:13

I want to encourage you today to take a moment to reflect on an area where you need to strengthen your foundation. Acknowledge the fear you let create doubt. It is not a shameful thing to admit, if anything it is the action that will help propel you forward and leave behind discouragement. God is faithful to his promises, through and through. Can you believe that truly?

Prayer : God, thank you for your word. Thank you for your promises. Thank you because you never have forsaken me and you never will. Forgive me for my choice to diminish you and your promises. I choose to believe in who you are. I choose to accept your purpose and promises over my life wholly. Help strengthen me to keep going and to see all you have for me. May my faith strengthen and remind me every day that you are with me. Thank you for your right hand that holds me. I am forever thankful. In Jesus' mighty name, Amen.