How does God help me when I am discouraged?

Deuteronomy 31:6, 8, 23“So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”

Joshua 1:9“This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Psalm 34:18The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.

We can be encouraged by the knowledge that God is always with us.

John 15:18“If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first.”

Hebrews 4:15This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.

We can be encouraged by remembering that Jesus can fully sympathize with our human experience and that he understands our deepest hurts and most overwhelming temptations.

Psalm 119:25, 28I lie in the dust; revive me by your word. . . . I weep with sorrow; encourage me by your word.

Romans 15:4Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.

We can be encouraged as we listen to God speak to us through his Word.

Isaiah 40:29-31He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.

We can be encouraged by waiting on God provision and receiving his power and strength.

Psalm 40:2He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along.

We can be encouraged when God rescues and restores us.

Joshua 23:10“Each one of you will put to flight a thousand of the enemy, for the Lord your God fights for you, just as he has promised.”

2 Chronicles 20:15, 17He [Jehaziel, a descendant of Asaph] said, “Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Listen, King Jehoshaphat! This is what the Lord says: Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. . . . you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the Lord’s victory. . . . Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out against them tomorrow, for the Lord is with you!”

1 Corinthians 15:57Thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.

We can be encouraged as we experience times when God defends and protects us.

2 Thessalonians 2:16-17May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal comfort and a wonderful hope, comfort you and strengthen you in every good thing you do and say.

We can be encouraged when we experience God’s hope and comfort.

Psalm 138:3As soon as I pray, you answer me; you encourage me by giving me strength.

We can be encouraged when God answers our prayers. It is important that we keep track of God’s answers to our requests for help.

1 Kings 19:4-8Then he went on alone into the wilderness, traveling all day. He sat down under a solitary broom tree and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died.” Then he lay down and slept under the broom tree. But as he was sleeping, an angel touched him and told him, “Get up and eat!” He looked around and there beside his head was some bread baked on hot stones and a jar of water! So he ate and drank and . . . and the food gave him enough strength to travel . . .

We can be encouraged by remembering what Scripture tells us—that God desires to meet our needs. He knows where we are and will step in to help us.

Luke 5:4-5When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish.” “Master,” Simon replied, “we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.”

We can be encouraged by listening to God’s instructions and doing what he tells us to do.

1 Chronicles 28:20Then David continued, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Don’t be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. He will see to it that all the work related to the Temple of the Lord is finished correctly.”

As we participate in God’s work, we can find courage in knowing that God will accomplish what he has promised to do.

2 Corinthians 7:6God, who encourages those who are discouraged, encouraged us by the arrival of Titus.

We can be encouraged when God sends others into our lives to build us up.

Romans 8:35-39I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

We can be encouraged by the assurance of God’s overwhelming love for us.

John 16:33I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

We can be encouraged when God’s peace floods our souls.