Dealing with Discouragement

I've had my share of discouraging moments on this journey. There are times when the weight of it wraps itself around my heart and tries to pull me under. It's a challenge to fight to stay above water and to maintain peace and joy in the midst of discouragement. Often discouragement gives no warning that it's coming. There's no time to prepare. I've found the strength I have from my relationship with God is the only thing that allows me to have victory over discouragement. There are some truths I've learned that I wanted to pass on to you the next time a giant of discouragement walks into your life. Maybe he's already there.

The dictionary defines discourage as "to deprive of courage, to detour, to dishearten, to hinder." Discouragement is a tool that I believe the enemy uses to detour and hinder us from the ministry God has for us. When discouragement comes that's the time I feel like throwing in the towel and quitting. The road ahead stretches for miles with no end in sight. It's a desolate, lonely path full of pain and sorrow.

I've learned that when the giant of discouragement taunts me I have to run to God and find my comfort and protection in Him. He allows discouragement into our lives to cause us to run to Him, not away from Him. God is the only one who can change the situation that brought about the discouragement in the first place.

I've also learned that I have to keep my eyes on the big picture. If you've ever watched a horse race you notice they have blinders on the side of the horses eyes so they don't get distracted by the other horses around them. They are trained to look straight ahead so they can run their own race to the finish line. I know God has called me to fight this cancer and beat it nutritionally and to have ministry along the entire way. So often discouragement will cause us to begin looking around and forget where we are headed. It's easy to get off course. For me when I feel discouraged I usually want to eat things I know would be detrimental to everything I've been doing these past 7 months. Thoughts of donuts and chocolate chip cookies dance through my head. It's easy to give in to temptation when we are discouraged. Your temptation might not come in the form of food but it might come in the form of gossip, anger, bitterness, depression or any other emotion that is counterproductive to the ministry God has called you to. I have often found myself literally crying out to God for His help to resist destructive temptations. A good cry in the arms of God can do wonders for the soul.

I've learned to live out I Thessalonians 5:16-18 where it talks about rejoicing always and in everything giving thanks because this is God's will for us. The word of God has become my greatest source of comfort. Comforting words with healing balm are hidden there. I encourage you to soak your spirit in the timeless truths that are waiting for you there.

The last thing I've learned is that God is always doing something in me, through me and for me! Everything he does is helping mold me into the image of His son. Being a Christian is to be "Christ like". I have become most like Him in the midst of trials and suffering, not when the path is easy and painless.

When I get to heaven I want to stand before my heavenly Father knowing I persevered with His strength through the discouraging times of life.

Today if discouragement is resting on your heart I encourage you to run to God, stay focused on the ministry He has called you to, rejoice and give thanks even when you don't feel like and be confident He is doing something in and through you. Don't give in to the chocolate chip cookies of life. His grace is sufficient for you.