How should I respond to feelings of discouragement?

Deuteronomy 26:6-7“When the Egyptians oppressed and humiliated us by making us their slaves, we cried out to the Lord, the God of our ancestors. He heard our cries and saw our hardship, toil, and oppression.”

1 Samuel 1:10Hannah was in deep anguish, crying bitterly as she prayed to the Lord.

Psalm 130:1From the depths of despair, O Lord, I call for your help.

Isaiah 38:2-3When Hezekiah heard this, he turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, “Remember, O Lord, how I have always been faithful to you and have served you single-mindedly, always doing what pleases you.” Then he broke down and wept bitterly.

Reach up to God in prayer, and he will lift you up.

Job 1:20-22Job stood up and tore his robe in grief. . . . He said, “I came naked from my mother’s womb, and I will be naked when I leave. The Lord gave me what I had, and the Lord has taken it away. Praise the name of the Lord!” In all of this, Job did not sin by blaming God.

James 4:10Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.

Acknowledge God’s sovereignty and how much you need his help.

Psalm 42:5-6, 8-11Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again—my Savior and my God! Now I am deeply discouraged, but I will remember you . . . But each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me, and through each night I sing his songs, praying to God who gives me life. . . . Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again—my Savior and my God!

Trust God’s promise to bring good out of the bad. Let him teach you something important even from your discouragement. Never separate yourself from the One who can give you the most help.

Psalm 55:22Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.

Psalm 142:3When I am overwhelmed, you alone know the way I should turn. Wherever I go, my enemies have set traps for me.

Let God carry your burdens when they are too heavy. This doesn’t mean he will take all your problems away or that he will solve your problems for you. That happens in heaven. But for now, God promises to give you wisdom, strength, comfort, and discernment to deal with your problems in a positive and effective manner.

Zechariah 8:6, 13This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: All this may seem impossible to you now, a small remnant of God’s people. But is it impossible for me? says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. . . . Among the other nations, Judah and Israel became symbols of a cursed nation. But no longer! Now I will rescue you and make you both a symbol and a source of blessing. So don’t be afraid. Be strong, and get on with rebuilding the Temple!

God can do the impossible, so let him!

Nehemiah 4:10-14Then the people of Judah began to complain, “The workers are getting tired, and there is so much rubble to be moved. We will never be able to build the wall by ourselves.” . . . Then as I looked over the situation, I called together the nobles and the rest of the people and said to them, “Don’t be afraid of the enemy! Remember the Lord, who is great and glorious, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes!”

1 Corinthians 15:58So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.

Galatians 6:9So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.

Be enthusiastic about God’s work, and then you will experience God’s blessing.

1 Peter 5:8-9Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are.

Recognize your vulnerability to Satan’s attacks and commit to standing firm against him. Your passionate commitment to God will give you a reason for courage.

1 Kings 19:4, 9-10, 13-14Then 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. . . . But the Lord said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” Elijah replied, . . . “I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.”

Feeling sorry for yourself invites discouragement and can cause you to stop trying. Though self-pity is easy to fall into, you must fight against it to prevent further discouragement. Spend time with others so you are not all alone with your feelings.

Philippians 1:12-18Everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. For everyone here, including the whole palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ. And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God’s message without fear.

Look for opportunities to turn your discouraging situation into an encouraging testimony.

Matthew 24:13“The one who endures to the end will be saved.”

2 Corinthians 6:4-10We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind. We have been beaten, been put in prison, faced angry mobs, worked to exhaustion, endured sleepless nights, and gone without food. We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love. . . . We serve God whether people honor us or despise us, whether they slander us or praise us. . . .

2 Thessalonians 1:4We proudly tell God’s other churches about your endurance and faithfulness in all the persecutions and hardships you are suffering.

2 Timothy 2:10-12I am willing to endure anything if it will bring salvation and eternal glory in Christ Jesus to those God has chosen. This is a trustworthy saying: If we die with him, we will also live with him. If we endure hardship, we will reign with him. If we deny him, he will deny us.

Hebrews 3:14If we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ.

Hebrews 10:32Think back on those early days when you first learned about Christ. Remember how you remained faithful even though it meant terrible suffering.

Hebrews 10:36Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.

Hebrews 12:3Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up.

Hebrews 12:12So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees.

Revelation 2:3You have patiently suffered for me without quitting.

Never give up, because then you have been defeated. Hold tight to God’s promise of ultimate victory, and he will give you the strength and endurance to get there.