When You Are Discouraged: Fight for the Truth

MicKenzie CrowleyFor Those Seeking HopeLeave a Comment

Discouragement. That’s what I see so often: heavy shoulders, general sadness, and anxiety all mixing together.

On top of the specific circumstances and problems each person is already facing, discouragement spirals us into believing lies.

Believing the Lies

These lies are not new, or ones that can be easily shrugged off. They are lies that we have believed for a long time, and (this time) they feel more real because they are repetitive. We rehearse these lies to ourselves in the midst of discouragement:

  • I’m not enough.
  • This is too hard.
  • I am alone in my experience.

There are many different kinds of discouragement, but I’m writing these lies down because they are what I hear most often from counselees. They are not true about anyone, but they feel true when we are discouraged.

Our Hope: Truth!

We can make the choice to fight for the truth and take one step at a time, even when we’re not feeling it.[1] We do this in faith, knowing that Jesus is fighting for us.

The lies are just lies, and feeling discouraged doesn’t make the lies true. The hope that we have is in Christ’s power over all lies! As we fight to tell ourselves the truth, we (begin to) find freedom from the lies, and we also show God’s power through difficulty! (2 Cor. 12:9-10)

Submit yourselves to God then, resist the devil, and he will flee from you (James 4:7). He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion (Phil. 1:6).

Be encouraged that the more we fight for truth, the more momentum builds and change starts to happen internally. Eventually, we’ll start to feel these truths, but at first, it will feel like we are fighting to try and believe them. That’s okay.

Our job is not to change our feelings right now, it’s just to fight to believe the truth and consistently take one step at a time, trusting that God is doing a work in us, and our faithfulness is planting small seeds that will grow into beautiful fruit.

Using Scripture to Fight the Lies

Ephesians 6:10-18 talks about the spiritual battle we face. The reality of the spiritual battle is that there are lies being thrown at us every single day.

We are not helpless in the midst of discouragement, rather, we can learn to filter lies (anything that does not line up with God’s Word) and fight by using truth from God’s Word to replace the lies (Eph. 4:22-24).

Jesus has already conquered the darkness: because He lives, we can live in hope today (Rom. 8:37)!

Here’s a list of other encouragement from Scripture:

  • God gives me value, I don’t earn it. (Psalm 139)
  • This is really hard, and God understands how I feel and He will walk through hard things with me. (Deut. 31:6, Psalm 46:1, Rom. 8:31-39, Psalm 56:8)
  • I have done hard things before by taking one step at a time and trusting the Lord to guide me. (Matt. 6:34, 2 Cor. 12:9-10, Prov. 3:5-6)
  • My mistakes don’t define me, only God has that right. There is not a mistake I could make that God didn’t see coming and surprised Him. (Rom 7:15 – Rom. 8:1/Psalm 139)
  • Jesus gives me purpose and has gifts He has given me, that He wants me to use. This is true even if I don’t know what those gifts and purpose are yet. (Eph. 2:8-10)

Challenge for This Week: Act on the Truth!

  • Write down 4 truths from Scripture every day for one week
    (use the verses within the article if you don’t know where to start)
  • Memorize one truth that you will repeat to yourself in discouraging moments
  • Seek wisdom and encouragement from those who are obviously walking with Jesus (Not sure who to talk to? Start with a pastor, a trusted family member, or a counselor)
  • Do something kind for someone else
  • Look for 3 things you see God’s faithfulness in each day and write them down

If you need help unpacking your experience of discouragement:

Maybe your discouragement points to something that needs to change, or your discouragement is coming from a source you haven’t been able to pinpoint.

We can help you find solutions for your experience of discouragement. Our counseling center has wise counselors ready to walk through biblical truth and practical steps to move you toward change.

Conclusion

My prayer for you is that you seek to encounter our God who loves you more than you can imagine, and is the source of all truth (1 John 1:5).

Be encouraged – there is hope and help available even if you don’t know what it is yet. “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things unseen” (Hebrews 11:1).


[1] Inspired by Jennie Allen’s book Get Out of Your Head.

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