Feeling Discouraged or Defeated? : Read This!

Don't be discouraged. It's often the last key in the bunch that opens the lock. -Unknown

Billy Graham once said, “the Christian life is not a constant high.” There will be moments of sadness, doubt, and happiness, as well as seasons in our lives that may bring discouragement and defeat. Even the best Christians and most successful people experience discouragement. It is a spirit that creeps in like a thief in the night; it comes to steal our joy, our hope, and our determination. It seeks to cripple our motivation and steer us off our path.

“Believe in life’s endless possibilities,” and “Do not fear the Lord is always with you!” is what we’re often told. “Endurance builds strength and character.” We may know that He is always with us and will never forsake us but what do we do when we feel discouraged? What do we do when the devil plants spirits of discouragement, fear, and doubt into our mind?

A few weeks ago, the spirit of apathy and doubt really began to consume me. I was ready to quit the whole blogging thing. I honestly didn’t feel motivated enough to write or to work on anything. I felt really discouraged about why I was even writing and sharing such intimate details of my life with others. What’s the point, I thought? One day I decided I had enough and decided today is the last day I am blogging. I then spoke with a friend who kindly reminded me to “get over myself.” Her honesty reminded me of why I had to keep on going.

God gave me this platform to share His word and my life testimony with others. It’s not about me; it’s not about how I feel this day; it’s about His purpose for my life, a purpose that includes spreading the word, spreading hope, and in doing so, helping others. God blesses us all with gifts and a purpose. Trials and challenges will always follow us as we pursue His purpose, but, we must not give up. The journey will be full of setbacks, failures, roadblocks and disappointments, and feelings of defeat; however, Never Give Up.

When things aren’t going how we imagined we often doubt the reasoning and purpose of even moving forward. We lose enthusiasm and forget the overall purpose of the task.

 “Defeat should never be a source of discouragement but rather a fresh stimulus.” (Robert South).

Whatever is discouraging you from staying the course, I challenge you to take a different approach. Take a mental break away from the chaos of life and spend some quality time talking to God. Mediate on His word. Allow God to renew His purpose in your life so that it feels as fresh as the day He revealed it to you! Sometimes we just need that extra word or that friend to reboot our energy! Once we renew that purpose, we are able to see that there is meaning in all that we experience.  Each experience is here to: teach us, humble us, and strengthen us, to endure the race.

Stay encouraged Gems.

Love,
Lauren Alyssa

 Here are some quotes and scriptures to read when you’re feeling discouraged:

2 Corinthians 4:8-9 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.

“Disappointment to a noble soul is what cold water is to burning metal; it strengthens, tempers, intensifies, but never destroys it.”-Eliza Tabor

 Hebrews 12:3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Let perseverance be your engine and hope your fuel. -H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Deuteronomy 31:8 The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.

“Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage.” ~ Anaïs Nin

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

“Courage is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm.” - Winston Churchill

Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fail. – Ralph Waldo Emerson