Earlier this week I had a few moments of discouragement. Nothing major, but just felt a bit weighed down by all the things not going as well as I had planned. Thankfully, my feelings only lasted a few hours. 

Later in the week, I heard from several people who also felt discouraged. It seems many are in that place right now. 

Discouragement comes in all shapes and sizes. 

It’s the misery you feel when the report from the doctor is not what you were hoping.

It’s the ache in your heart when you feel like a failure.

It’s the cry of your soul when you feel worried about choices your kids might be making.

It’s the sting in your heart when you feel rejected.

It’s the defeat you experience when the promotion you hoped for doesn’t come through.

The tricky thing about discouragement is it often follows times of great victory. Remember Elijah? He had just won a huge battle against the prophets of Baal. He had called down fire from heaven as a mighty display of God’s power. The show was spectacular. Shock and awe (1 Kings 18:36-39)! The people cried out, “The LORD – he is God!” (1 Kings 18:39). Then Elijah went on to kill the 400 prophets of Baal. However, soon after, Jezebel threatened his life. Elijah felt afraid and took off running, crashed under a broom tree, and asked God to take his life (1 Kings 19:3-4). What in the world?! 

I believe there were several significant reasons why Elijah crashed. First, he was exhausted after the Spirit of God moved through him so powerfully. Second, after an incredible victory, the enemy of our souls often comes with the biggest threats. Elijah experienced both and it’s likely that you will as well. 

So how do we bolster our souls when the feelings of discouragement come? We remember these 3 seemingly tiny but mighty truths:

God is for you. When feelings of discouragement come, God hasn’t changed His opinion of you. He is still on your side. Nothing can separate you from His love! Not even your own feelings of inadequacy or ineptness. “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?… NO, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Romans 8:35-37).

This is just a season. If you look back on your life you will remember that there have been other seasons of discouragement. Those seasons always pass and then there is another season of victory and encouragement. Keep discouragement in perspective. It will pass. “There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heavens” (Ecclesiastes 3:1). 

What God has started He will complete. When you feel discouraged, remember that God is not finished with you yet. He has started the work of transformation and He will bring it to completion. You can trust Him to finish the work even when it looks like nothing is happening. “Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6).

Friend, all of us experience discouragement from time to time. Don’t let it mow you down. Remember these simple yet, profound truths, God is for you, this is just a season and what God has started He will complete!

If you haven’t ordered your copy of Rooted Joy yet, order now and gather a few friends this summer to go through this simple and fun study to discover more joy! You’ll enjoy the questions, the suggested girlfriend activities, and the blessing that wraps up each session.

This week on The Connected Mom Podcast we’re talking about mom guilt with best-selling author, Carol Kent. Be sure to listen in and, hey – would you download and share the episode with a friend?