Scripture: Isaiah 41:10

Analyze the “Why” 

Take some time to analyze why you are facing frustration.

I know there are some of you out there – many of you – facing immense discouragement. The weight of it sits squarely on your chest, sometimes making it hard to get out of bed in the morning. Perhaps your life is filled with seemingly impossible obstacles today, facing difficulty, hardships, and criticism. Just when it seems you are getting slightly ahead, another mountain presents itself for climbing. You run hard, putting out many fires along the way. You often juggle several balls in the air and inevitably drop one – leaving guilt and, too frequently, Discouragement. I know how difficult it can be. I know because I have been there more times than I can count. I’ve often felt that I’ve done all I could, and it simply wasn’t enough. I know the feelings of “Why try? I’m failing anyway.” I know well the feelings of inadequacy, comparison, and exhaustion. Friends, there is freedom for you. You do not have to live in constant Discouragement that it’s too hard, that you’re not doing enough, or that you’ll never get it right. 

The first thing we need to do is analyze why we’re frustrated. What is the root? The short answer for some of you may be, “I don’t know!”I want to offer some possibilities for you to consider: 

1. Are you comparing?

Have you (even unintentionally) spent too much time thinking about someone else’s life? Maybe they got the promotion, good kids, the wedding of their dreams, or a new home. Does it seem like you always get the short end of the stick while others around you are blessed and highly favored? If so, then you may be down in a pit of comparison. Galatians 6:4 says, “Pay careful attention to your work, for then you will get satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else.” Comparison is a sin that so quickly ensues. The more you look at what others have and their circumstances, the more you will feel discontentment and Discouragement. You will never feel content in the season you are in if you are secretly coveting the season someone else is in. As soon as you stop comparing, you can flourish with what God has given you. 

2. Are you under attack?

Sometimes, plain and simple, you are in the midst of a spiritual battle with demonic assignments and weapons sent to wage war against you. We know Ephesians 6:12-13 detail a spiritual war that we cannot see. Sometimes, the enemy will send despair, Discouragement, and discontentment to distract. He is often aware of the threat you are to the Kingdom of darkness. Maybe your life shines a light on the goodness of God. The hope and joy you have are unexplained to many, so he sends Discouragement to confuse, distract, and cause chaos. 

3. Are you operating against God?

Are there things in your life, whether sin or disobedience, that do not honor God? Sometimes, we operate with sin that is against the Scriptures, and most of us would know when that is so. However, there are also times when we are outside God’s will, as He may have given specific instructions for our lives, e.g., don’t date that person, leave that job, remove the children from that school, etc. When we act in disobedience, ignoring the prompting of the Holy Spirit, we will often find the weight of our day-to-day lives unusually heavier. 

4. Are you exhausted?

Hebrews 4:1-13 explains a particular rest that is promised to the people of God. Now, the writer is talking about spiritual rest, of course, the rest of knowing our God is in control and is faithful. However, spiritual rest also results in physical rest. When we are not well-rested, we are vulnerable to spiritual attacks we wouldn’t have been vulnerable to before. 

Points to Ponder: 

• Analyze the list above. Are there any you fall prey to today? Is. 41:10 gives us explicit instruction that our good God is upholding us. Take time to pray today that whatever has created the discouragement must bow to the name of Jesus. 

Scripture: Romans 12:2

Watch Your Mind 

Do not bow to the thoughts coming into your mind. Take each captive.

The mind is powerful. This is why Scripture teaches that we must take every thought captive. We must not conform to culture and the sin so pervasive in it. Likewise, we must not bow to the endless thoughts in our mind that are sometimes sent by Satan and sometimes our flesh! Stop agreeing with the lies. I know, I know. It is far easier for us to believe some of the lies the enemy tells us, that the world tells us, or that we tell ourselves than to accept the truth of what God says about us sometimes. 

We battle many lies: 

It’s never going to get any better than it is now. I’m not a good enough mom, daughter, employee, friend, etc. I’ll never have more than I have right now. No good spouse would ever want me. I’ll always struggle with this. I’ll never have a good marriage. We’ll never get ahead financially. God doesn’t love me. I’m unlovable. 

The only way to battle lies is with truth, and the truth is God’s Word. The truth is not how we feel based on our circumstances, for they are temporary. What is unchanging and truth-filled is the Word of God. The beautiful thing about the truth of God’s Word is that it is not based on what we see in the present moment – however difficult it may be. Today, you could be facing many battles – far and wide – but the truth is God is your provider, sustainer, redeemer, healer, and restorer. You may not know how He’ll do it or even why it happened in the first place, but we can lean on the truth of God’s Word. Your truth is not based on a list of principles you developed (despite what is culturally normal now); your truth is based on who God says you are. Your truth is God’s truth. There is no separate, individual truth – only His truth. 

Take the time to write down every lie that you have believed about yourself or your situation. Analyze the lies from the enemy, negative self-talk, or words spoken over you by yourself or others. Then, find the Scripture that dispels the lie. God calls you His beloved, chosen daughter. If you can master the daily renewal of your mind, you will become a warrior in the spirit realm. 

Points to Ponder: 

• Draw a line down a sheet of paper with the left labeled “lies” and the right labeled “truth”. Begin to list every lie the Holy Spirit reveals, and take the time to research Scripture that thwarts that lie. Write it under the truth column. This step is a powerful process, so take some time to be prayerful before the Lord. Begin to proclaim each Scripture aloud, despite how you feel. 

Scripture: James 3:2

Watch Your Mouth 

What is flowing from your mouth has power.

What comes out of our mouths matters. I would venture to say it matters far more than most realize. There is power in our words. Listen, listen, listen very closely. Many are making oaths, covenants, agreements, trades, and curses with their mouths that are coming into agreement with the enemy of their soul. We often do not realize these things coming from our mouths are tying us to an ungodly individual, a curse, an ungodly belief system, a habit, or demonic torment. 

Stop speaking “death” over your situation. Your words matter. You cannot wallow in death and expect life to birth from it. Proverbs 18:21 says, “The tongue can bring death or life…” Everything you speak must be in alignment with the Word of God. Doing this is very, very, very important. (Did I mention it was important?) Some of us are planting words of death in our backyards. We water it and fertilize it. We nurse it to health. And then, we expect to grow life. 

Unclean and unholy speech we should avoid includes careless comments, complaining, profanity, gossip, lying, and word curses. Speak encouragement, hope, and love. Encourage and edify yourself and others. Think before you speak. Much Discouragement is likely rooted in the things flowing from your lips. Stand firm on the Word of God and decree and declare it over your life and your children, despite what you see and how you feel. Speak the Word aloud. Some things are happening in the spirit realm that we do not see when we pray and declare the Lord’s words. Get good at speaking to your future rather than your past. Get good at declaring the things of God over you and your children – even if it feels unnatural at first. Sadly, we’ve practiced speaking words of death over our lives for far too long, and we’re often comfortable doing it. Get good at speaking life. Get the Bible out and read it aloud. Hear yourself declaring the goodness of God, the promises of God, and the stories of God’s faithfulness until it becomes a habit. 

Points to Ponder: 

• Are there some things you say out of habit that do not align with God’s Word? Have you considered some of the words flowing from your mouth daily and whether or not they are actually true according to Scripture? Begin to ask the Lord to reveal those things and repent. 

Scripture: Deuteronomy 32:4

Check the Track Record 

God is always faithful. 

Remember that God is faithful. If you are facing Discouragement right now, please know that God is faithful. Whether you face parenting & financial challenges or recovery from abuse and trauma, our God is faithful. The same God who rescued you and answered your prayers in tough situations is available today. His track record is good. As we look at the track record of His promises from the beginning of time, we see that our God can be trusted. He does what He says He’ll do. He is not a man that He should lie. If He said it, He’s doing it. His promises are always yes and amen. To be sure, His timing isn’t ours, but He is working on your behalf. His timing is perfect, and He is faithful in every season. 

When I’m tempted to fall into Discouragement when troubles come, I look back over the hand of God in my life. I read old journals when I cried out to God to rescue me, and He did. (And admittedly, sometimes I even forgot!) I see prodigals who have come home. I see finances restored. I see old wounds of a bleeding broken heart that I thought would kill me that is whole and healthy and joy-filled again. I see a marriage I thought I’d never have. I see health in my body that sometimes ailed me. There is no denying the hand of God in my life, and sometimes, despite what I see or feel in a moment, I have to go back to the good things and recount. 

Today, maybe you need to be reminded that in a moment, in the blink of an eye, our God can restore joy and hope in a way that only He can do it. You will see the goodness of God in the land of the living. Encourage yourself by meditating on the faithfulness of God in prior hard seasons. Allow your faith to rise. Encourage yourself with lists of His current and previous provisions. Did He bring friends to you during a lonely season? Did He bring meals when you were hungry? Did He rain manna from Heaven when there was no money in the checking account? Did He restore your health? Did He set you free from the bondage of addiction, depression, or suicide? Did He bring you a great church family? Our God is faithful. It only takes moments of looking around to see His handiwork all around. 

Points to Ponder: 

• Look up 5 Scriptures that proclaim the faithfulness of God and choose 2 to memorize this week. 

Scripture: Psalms 150:6

Despite What You See, Praise! 

Now is the time for a praise break. 

I don’t know about you, but the last thing I want to do when I feel pressed from all sides is praise. My body, mind, and emotions do not want to get in alignment with a praise break. However, we must praise despite our circumstances. Our God is worthy of all praise. If He never does another thing for us, He is still worthy of praise. We do not praise Him because we seek Him to fulfill a list of demands like a magic genie we rub from a lamp. We praise because of who He is. He is our creator. While we were yet in our mother’s womb, He knew us. He has plans to prosper us, to give us a future and hope. 

Praise shifts the atmosphere. I know. When you are discouraged, the last thing you want to do is go into a church and participate in praise and worship. You likely want to avoid having praise and worship in your home. You don’t feel like cranking the tunes in the car for an all-out praise-fest. It can feel futile when you’ve just received a terrible health diagnosis that doesn’t look good or a report that a child is in danger or Word that your spouse has been unfaithful. The weight of your circumstances today can make praise especially difficult, like too great of an effort. How can I raise my hands when my heart is so heavy? How can I praise when the mountain seems so great?

Remember, it is in your weakest moments that the enemy pushes you the most. But it is likewise in your weakness when Christ is proven strong. The enemy delights in moving you away from the church, away from the things of God, away from praising and reading the Word. Praise shifts the atmosphere in the spirit realm, and Discouragement cannot stand. Discouragement must bow to the name of Jesus. You can have peace despite the present-day circumstances. It is imperative that you begin to open your mouth and praise God for His faithfulness in past seasons, and it is even more important to praise Him in advance for what He will do in this next season. Your praise matters. It allows you to fight Discouragement well. 

Points to Ponder: 

• Host a 30-minute praise and worship session in your home or car every day this week. Get out the playlist, get quiet before the Lord, and then begin to speak out all the ways you are grateful. Praise His name. Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty. He is worthy of all praise.

Scripture: Jeremiah 29:11

What’s the Plan? 

The Lord God has a plan for your life. 

We talked earlier in the week about reasons we may be facing Discouragement, and one of those reasons was being out of alignment with the will of God. Of course, this is not the reason in all cases, as we listed several potential reasons why we face Discouragement, but I want to encourage you to camp out on this thought for a moment. God’s plans for your life are always good and not evil, always to give a future and hope. We must regularly seek the will of the Father. Seek God’s plan for your life in the big and small things. Sometimes, our Discouragement is rooted in trying to do our own thing without regard to the Lord’s plan. We are going to “make it happen” one way or another. This is dangerous. Some of us know how dangerous it is because we’ve tried to manipulate and control our way into the life we want rather than follow the Lord. 

When we attempt to control our lives, we can step into new seasons too soon – seasons we aren’t prepared for yet. Perhaps it means we move too quickly into a new relationship or move to a new house without asking the Holy Spirit for guidance. When we pause and seek godly, wise counsel from those God has placed in our lives and seek the Lord in prayer time regularly – asking for the Holy Spirit to guide – we move into seasons that have God’s hand of blessings upon them. We don’t find ourselves running on hamster wheels going nowhere. When we do it ourselves, it can often feel like we’re toiling through quicksand. The more we lean into His plans for us, the more we walk in encouragement, hope, and optimism. Make choices that honor His plan for your life. 

Points to Ponder: 

• The hardest thing many of you will need to do to battle Discouragement successfully is remove things from your life that God never intended to be there. 

Scripture: Matthew 6:5-7

You May Need a Prayer Shift 

Shift the way you pray. 

If we get honest, many of us pray with a list of to-do’s for God. Lord, I need this. Lord, if you could help with that… And, of course, this is important. We see in Matthew 6:11 that Jesus modeled asking our Heavenly Father for our “daily bread.” But if we dissect what Jesus said about how to pray and analyze Matthew 6:5-13, we see that He gives specific instructions. As we battle Discouragement and seek the Lord, let’s ensure our prayer life aligns with Jesus’ model. 

1. Worship & Gratitude

We talked about worship yesterday, but we see that in the launch of the Lord’s prayer, Jesus begins with acknowledging the greatness of our God, e.g., “hallowed be your name.” He admits that it’s not our will but His will that is to be done. “You are worthy of all praise, Lord. Thank you for salvation, for freedom, for provision, for redemption. Thank you for my health and my church and friends. Thank you for protection and conviction and wisdom.” 

2. Repent

We must ask the Lord to search our hearts. What is in our lives that does not honor him? Is there unforgiveness? Is there sin? Forgiveness and “deliverance from evil” are also part of Jesus’ model. 

3. Humility

We see that Jesus instructs in our Scripture of the day in Matthew 6:5-7 that we are to be humble before the Lord. Jesus highlights the hearts of the hypocrites. The Lord knows our hearts. Come before Him with reverence, honor, and humility. 

4. Warfare

This is where many of you need to transition in your fight of Discouragement. After you have brought a clean and prepared heart, worshiped and repented, it is time to move into warfare. Take your rightful place as co-heirs. Take the authority given to you on earth. Ask the Lord to send warring angels to fight on your behalf. Push back the darkness. Thwart the plans of the enemy. No weapon prospers. Greater is He that is in you. All knees must bow. His Kingdom come. Woe to the one who stands against the plans of the Lord. Pray for protection over your soul and that of your children. Pray for the protection of your home. And, importantly, begin to intercede on behalf of others, especially pastors, church leaders, Bible study teachers, bosses, and any in authority. Learning to become an intercessory prayer warrior will not only shift things spiritually but will also shift your perspective. 

We have spent time this week analyzing reasons why Discouragement has come and discovering ways to successfully fight it, including: 

• Guarding your mouth 
• Renewing your mind 
• Assessing God’s track record of faithfulness 
• Praising despite how we feel 
• Seeking the plan of God for our lives, and now, 
• Shifting our prayer life. 

Friends, this is the recipe for encouragement, joy, and freedom. You are daughters of the highest King. You are royalty, bought at a high price, and are joint heirs with Christ Jesus. You are bought and paid for by the blood of the Lamb. You are righteous by that blood—your portion to walk in freedom, encouragement, wholeness, and joy. Your portion is to walk in the love of Christ that covers a multitude of sins. If you pray and seek the Lord, you are a good mom.