Discouragement - Part 1 - Initial Inspiration

Discouragement. Depression. Despair. These negative feelings can happen at any time, but winter can be harder for many people than any other season of the year. People can be affected by the dreariness outside, by the scarcity of singing birds, blooming flowers, beaming sun, thriving trees, and even growing grass. Surroundings are brown and ugly - unless they are covered by that white stuff, which doesn't always bring happy feelings either. For a time it seems as if life has been swallowed up by death. Many people feel trapped inside by the cold and snow, leaving them more isolated from other people and depriving them of beneficial exercise. There is also the letdown after the joyous Christmas celebrations with family, as well as the disappointment of ending another year without having achieved desired goals or of failing yet again in New Year's resolutions - after only two days, a week, or a month. In light of the fact that winter can be a sad time, I want to share some help over the next few months to combat these negative feelings.

For sake of continuity, I am titling these articles "discouragement." It is a broad enough word to include a variety of manifestations, and discouragement does, in fact, happen at varying levels of intensity. Some people have mild down feelings that come and go. Others experience deeper discouragement that seems never to go away. Some are trapped in depression and despondency so intense that they completely give up hope and perhaps even think of ending their lives. There is hope and help for every level.

Many people do not realize that discouragement can have varied contributing factors. "Depression" is a bad word, particularly in many Christian circles. It is typically viewed as one of the most taboo sin problems and as something that a Christian should never experience and certainly should not mention to anyone else. This mindset views the sole cause of depression and discouragement to be wrong thinking. Other possible causes can exist, however. There can be contributing physical factors. A number of diseases affect the brain or hormones, which can cause tremendous (and mystifying) changes in the emotions. Depressed feelings can also be induced chemically by many medications that interfere with the emotional aspects of a person. There are even very practically-based contributors, such as poor sleep, unhealthy diet, limited exercise, and social isolation.

While many of these factors can (and should) be controlled and changed by discouraged individuals, some of them are completely outside one's control. To these people in particular, discouragement may seem to be an unconquerable enemy. After all, there is nothing they can do to change the cause. The good news is that there is hope for every cause. The "treatment," in fact, is basically the same for all. The answer lies in addressing as many of the contributing factors as possible. That may include eating better, exercising more, getting enough sleep, and becoming socially involved, for example. Of all the causes listed above, however, I believe that wrong thinking is the most prevalent cause of depression. It is the thinking then that needs to change.

Even when there are other contributing factors that are outside a person's control, thinking is within a person's control. It is interesting that even if the cause of discouragement is primarily physical, a change in thinking can still combat the discouragement. If someone's discouragement results from an underlying physical cause that cannot be eliminated, the fight against discouragement might be more challenging. This person's discouragement could be more intense or more persistent, and he may have to fight it for the rest of his life. That does not mean, however, that he has to lose to it for the rest of his life. It might be an on-going challenge, but it is also a challenge that can be effectively met and held at bay.

While there is hope for every cause and every level of intensity, for many people the relief will not be instantaneous, nor will the change happen overnight. Those with extreme levels of discouragement may feel helpless, not even knowing where to start. They may recognize that the journey out of their dungeon will take an extended length of time. They may believe that victory is theoretically possible, but that they can't make it through until the time that things finally get better. Believing the solution to be a change in thinking, I offer the meditations below - initial inspirations for fighting discouragement. For those with mild discouragement, these truths alone could be enough to change the day. For those with severe discouragement, they can serve as a step in the right direction and as a foothold on the downward slide. Here are three wonderful hope-giving foundations for the thoughts.

"Being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, 'I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you'" (Hebrews 13:5).

God is not a mere human. People fail and abandon, sometimes when help is most needed. God never does that. He is with the believer every moment of every day. He is not going anywhere. He will never abandon the believer, no matter how dark the days; He will never fail to give the help and support that is expected based on the nature of His relationship with the believer.

"I can do all things through Him who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13).

God gives the strength that a believer otherwise would not have and could never produce on his own. That strength comes only through God. There is no other source that can provide for every facet of strength; God's strength can enable the believer to endure, to be faithful, to keep his mind fixed on truth, and to achieve victory.

"And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19).

"All" means "all." Believers sometimes apply this promise to financial or material needs; while that is appropriate, God also supplies for emotional needs. He will not allow any true need to go unmet. The wonderful thing about this provision is that God has rich resources at His disposal to be able to meet every need. There is no need too great for Him.

If I could choose three truths as the foundation in the fight against discouragement, they would be these three. These verses reveal the precious assurances that God is ALWAYS with me, that He will strengthen me for EVERYTHING, and that He will supply for EVERY need.

Perhaps these truths provided immediate help for someone. I realize (and the reader probably does, too) that the discouraged thoughts will probably return, maybe by later today or by tomorrow morning. If the truths helped once, they can help again, but only when they are recalled. It is important to repeat, re-read, and reiterate these truths often. Even if they seem at times to have no impact, they must serve as frequent reminders. God's Word is powerful and can make more of a difference than one realizes. While recalling these truths may not lift the spirits on every occasion, they can stop the negative thoughts on their downward journey and can help to reinforce a more consistent practice of turning to the right thoughts - a habit that will lead to positive results.