Discouraged

We’ve all experienced discouragement. Discouragement means losing hope, feeling less confident, or an action that stops us from trying. Depression and discouragement are heavy emotional states that often overlap, defined by a loss of enthusiasm, deep sadness, and low energy. While discouragement isn’t the cause of our depression, it can intensify it. For those of us who struggle with depression, discouragement can lead us to that dreaded downward spiral. The thing is discouragement is a normal part of our everyday life. We can’t avoid it. It lurks around every corner. Because of this we need to be able to recognize discouragement when it presents itself. Our downward spiral is an indicator of where our trust is. What or who are we trusting our lives with? 

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9). In the first nine verses of Joshua, God tells Joshua three times to be “strong and courageous.” The third time God tells Joshua why he should be strong and courageous. Why? Because “the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua wasn’t alone in being strong and courageous. He had the Creator of all things with him. The same is true for us. We are not alone in our depression. The Lord your God is with you wherever you go. When we are standing face to face with discouragement, God is there as well. When we are free falling in our downward spiral of depression, God is there. God is standing by our side and we can see Him because we are too deep into our discouragement and depression. But He’s there, just like He was there for Joshua.

I believe a valid question we must ask in our discouragement and in our downward spiral is, “where have we placed our trust?” Are we trusting in our circumstances to deliver us? Or, are we trusting in God’s promises? God promises to be with us wherever we go. Do we trust God? If we do, we can be strong and courageous when discouragement comes our way. “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” (Joshua 1:8). The Bible is God's love story for all of humanity. It is full of God’s promises, His rescuing His people, and His provisions for our life. When discouragement comes to us we can focus on our circumstances or focus on God and His promise to go with us wherever we go. So in our downward spiral we can pick up our Bible and begin reading about how much God loves us. We can read about the many promises He has given us. And in doing so we can be strong and courageous.