How to Overcome Discouragement
Hi Beautiful,
Do you ever have all the plans set up with the ideas flourishing and then you just feel lost and down about the future?
I know just like me, you would like to live the life you have been imagining and walking in the path God created for you. I started feeling like I was losing my way and the past tried to show up; reminding me of the time that passed and plans not succeeded. We go through different seasons, and when we are discouraged, it’s important to turn to God for direction and guidance.
Through overcoming this feeling, I’ll be sharing my steps and how God can speak to you.
1 Recognising My Emotions
I love journaling and I always start my day with it.
You can start by writing down all your feelings and all other emotions attached. There are different branches of emotions and this emotions wheel has helped a lot in identifying where I'm am. It has also helped with communicating to others about my feelings.
2 Journal my Feelings
Once you can pinpoint your feelings, going deeper with journal prompts is good practice.
The how's? what's and why's?
You can start with these journal prompts;
How am I feeling?
What have been some triggers this week?
What can I change right now?
What can I bring to God?
In what ways am I feeling stuck?
3 Pray and Connect with God
Whenever I spend time with God it always gives me a boost of love and clarity.
I have learned to bare it all and cry out unashamed to the One who can help me and restore my needs. Lament out to the Lord and expressed my feelings. Through prayer, I can let go of my worries and focus on His sufficient grace.
If I can’t speak or I’m lost on how to pinpoint my feelings, then I will have my soaking music on and just listen and relax in the presence of God
A great way to set the mood and be expectant of the Lord is to put music on and go into the presence of God, a place of peace and refuge. When you have no words stay in worship and flow.
Here is a list of soaking music YouTube channels that I use:
https://www.youtube.com/@DappyTKeysOfficial
https://www.youtube.com/@JesusCo (they have good LIVE sessions)
https://www.youtube.com/@SoakinginHisPresence
www.youtube.com/@DanMusselman
Next, you can search what the Word said about discouragement or sadness
Take the time to read, meditate and apply the scriptures you use to your life and even ask yourself some more questions to overcome your emotions.
A list of scripture about discouragement, sad and direction:
”A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance,
But by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.”
Proverbs 15:13
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new”
2 Corinthians 5:17
“Do all things without complaining and disputing”
Philippians 2:14
”Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying,
“This is the way, walk in it,”
Whenever you turn to the right hand
Or whenever you turn to the left”
Isaiah 30:21
”The Lord will guide you continually,
And satisfy your soul in drought,
And strengthen your bones;
You shall be like a watered garden,
And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail”
Isaiah 58:11
”However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth;
for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak;
and He will tell you things to come”
John 16:13
Feeling peace once a word is received feels great, it gives direction on the matter. God desires us to listen to His Word and rely on His sufficient grace.
Put what God said in action but know if you didn't hear anything yet you should still continue to pray and seek the Lord about it.
When you have heard from God even if it doesn't make sense to you right now, pursue it and start working through things slowly. The pressure comes off knowing that you have direction from God.
You can express self-care to relax and take care of your mind of things whilst waiting on the Lord.
Read 10 Self Care Habits
I pray there is a breakthrough concerning the matters in your life.
Be Beautiful and Choose Happiness x
