7 Ways to Beat Discouragement and Gain Courage, Drive and Enthusiasm

Here is one thing that I am 100% sure has happened to you this year already....a pesky little discouraging thought has popped into your mind. Am I right?

It could be something small like…wow! look at the awesome new job her daughter has just landed, why isn’t that happening to my child..have I failed as a mum?

Or, you give something your best efforts, only to receive criticism.

Maybe you had some high expectations for this year only to have them dashed already.

You could have tried multiple times at something (like losing weight or applying for jobs) and you feel like you are getting nowhere.

Discouragement is a creeping, invisible emotion that starts small then as we dwell on our shortcomings and failures it grows into an overwhelming sense of hopelessness and despair IF we don’t stop it in it’s tracks.

The dictionary defines discouragement as: “a feeling of despair in the face of obstacles, or a state of distraught and loss of sense of enthusiasm, drive or courage.”

It’s time, right now, at the beginning of this year, to arm ourselves with tools to combat any loss of enthusiasm, drive or courage. We need to be forearmed so when that creeping discouraging thought pops into our minds we will recognize it immediately and put one of these 7 actions into place. Are you with me?

We need strong courage to stand tall, try new things and grow this year. We need the drive and motivation to attempt and succeed at our goals. We need enthusiasm to enjoy our life, work and families.

Courage. Drive. Enthusiasm. Awesome words.

1. Count Your Blessings

“Let all the I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me.” Psalm 103:2 NLT

As soon as any pesky discouraging thought enters your mind – fight it with praise. Think of all the good blessings in your life. Make a list. Write it down. Start praising God for the good that you can see. If you find this hard, download my free ebook on Thanksgiving which gives you 21 thanksgiving prayer ideas.

2. Don’t Compare!

“Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else.” Galatians 6:4 NLT

Ah, the old comparison trap! don’t be sucked in by it’s illusions. God did not create cookie cutter humans. We are uniquely created and designed. You have your own way of processing information that no one else has. Refuse to go down the comparison track. Stay in your own lane – it was carefully prepared for you by your Heavenly Father, who knows you inside and out. Set your own benchmarks that are related to your own work and gain true satisfaction. It is easy to see someone else’s successes but what we don’t normally see is their struggles, fears, setbacks and failures that they encountered along the way.

3. Stop Living Life in Your Own Strength!

“This is what the Lord says: “Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans, who rely on human strength and turn their hearts away from the Lord. They are like stunted shrubs in the desert, with no hope for the future. They will live in the barren wilderness, in an uninhabited salty land. But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.” Jeremiah 17:5-8 NLT

Enough said.

4. God Hasn’t Finished Yet!

“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” Philippians 1:6

Believe that God is working right now on your problem. God is working right now in your children’s lives, in your husband life, in your community’s life. Sometimes we can’t see the work but it is happening, deep down in the unseen,just like a seed in the soil. Take heart. Take courage. God is working. When I am facing a discouragement, I ask God to show me where he is working through out my day. He has never disappointed me.

5. Don’t Despise Small Beginnings

“Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin.” Zechariah 4:10a NLT

Most great accomplishments start with a small idea that someone has embraced, worked on and along the way, pieces are added to it until it becomes a great work. They say that if they had known the end result they would have been overwhelmed and probably would have given up. God seems to start small with us. If we embrace the small beginning and move in His timing, we will probably be amazed and where He takes us.

6. Lift up Your Head

“But you O Lord are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.” Psalm 3:3

There is something powerful in the lifting of our heads. When our heads are bowed down we only see the ground and not the horizon. Pray Psalm 3:3 then go for a walk and move. Lift the head, swing the arms and allow God to infuse courage, confidence and enthusiasm into your soul.

7. Seek Community

“Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.” Hebrews 10:23-25 NLT

We need each other to feed our courage and motivation to hold on to God’s promises. Gather encouraging, believing friends around you and regularly meet up with them. Share God stories together. Take time to build another person up in the faith and in return you will be built up too.

There are the 7 tools that will fight discouragement this year for you. Take time now to arm yourself so that you are prepared for when those pesky thoughts come knocking.

Last year my One Word was prepare and I think it is important to recognize our weaknesses and discover ways we can be prepared beforehand. If discouragement is not your issue – then ask God what you need to prepare for this year. Ask him for his knowledge and wisdom and arm yourself with it.

Feedback: Please take the time to comment below if it has been of help to you. In what ways are you feeling discouraged right now? Allow me to pray with you. Which one of the 7 tools do you find helpful?

Keep Leaning into God – Start 2019 Well

Rachel Larkin