We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 2 Corinth 4: 8-9 To be honest, I didn’t even realize it at first. It crept in quietly. The things that once stirred excitement in me, the little tasks, the goals, … Continue reading How Do I Deal with Discouragement as a Believer?
We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 2 Corinth 4: 8-9
To be honest, I didn’t even realize it at first. It crept in quietly.
The things that once stirred excitement in me, the little tasks, the goals, the dreams I once carried so boldly started to fade into the background. I wasn’t deliberate about it. It wasn’t rebellion. It was… discouragement.
I didn’t even name it at first. But looking back, I can see it now: discouragement had found a corner in my heart and pitched its tent.
Maybe that’s where you are too.
You had expectations maybe around your career, ministry, family, or a personal desire and you poured yourself into it. Time, prayers, sacrifices, your whole heart… yet, it feels like the return on that effort has been slow, almost non-existent. Every time it feels like breakthrough is near, something comes up and shuts the door again.
And then that quiet, dangerous question slips into your mind:
“What’s the point?”
Even scripture acknowledges it:
“Hope deferred makes the heart sick…” Proverbs 13:12a
It’s real. The heart can grow weary. Discouragement can chip away at our passion, joy, and even faith. But as believers, we are not called to camp there. We guard our hearts, we fight back, we anchor ourselves in truth.
Here’s how I personally deal with discouragement when it tries to steal the joy of my salvation:
1. I Draw My Strength from the Word of God
The Word is my lifeline. Not just for head knowledge, but for survival. I remind myself that God’s promises don’t lie dormant forever. His Word is living, active, and relevant especially when I’m weak.
“But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31
Strength isn’t always about physical energy. Sometimes, it’s courage. It’s renewed focus. It’s spiritual clarity. The Word infuses that into my weary places.
2. I Go Back to the Drawing Board
Discouragement makes you question your entire vision, but sometimes it’s not the vision that’s wrong, it’s the strategy. Instead of abandoning the dream, I step back and ask: “Lord, show me if I need to adjust my approach.”
Remember, even God told Habakkuk:
“Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it.” Habakkuk 2:2
Sometimes, the vision needs fresh strategy. New methods. Patience for divine timing. Not everything is delayed because God said “No” sometimes He’s saying, “Tweak this, realign that, trust Me through the process.”
3. I Remember the Goodness of God
It’s so easy to dwell on what God hasn’t done yet, that we forget what He’s already done. I remind myself of the countless ways He’s shown up for me: the doors He opened, the safety He provided, the illnesses He healed, the people He planted in my life, the peace I enjoy in stormy seasons.
“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits:
Who forgives all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases,
Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies.” Psalm 103:2-4
Gratitude keeps your heart from drowning in discouragement. It shifts your focus from “What’s missing?” to “Look how far God has brought me.”
4. I Keep My Eyes on the Purposes of God
At the end of the day, God’s purposes are bigger than my feelings, my timeline, or even my disappointments. Sometimes, what feels like delay is God orchestrating a far greater plan that I can’t yet comprehend.
“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28
If it’s not good yet, it’s not the end. God’s purposes don’t fold because I’m discouraged; they remain steadfast, and so I keep showing up even on weary days.
5. I Stand on the Promise that My Expectation Will Not Be Cut Off
One of my favorite anchors is Proverbs 23:18:
“For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off.” (KJV)
God is not a tease. He is faithful to fulfill the righteous expectations birthed in obedience to Him. It may take time. There may be battles. But there is an end and it’s glorious.
Discouragement is real. But so is the sustaining power of God.
When it creeps in, don’t condemn yourself fight back with the Word, realign your strategy, practice gratitude, focus on God’s purposes, and declare His promises over your life.
You are not alone in this. Discouragement is part of the human experience, but victory is our inheritance as believers. Don’t let it steal the joy of your salvation.
What area are you battling discouragement in right now? I’d love to stand with you in prayer or share scriptures specific to your season. Let me know 
You are Loved 
Angel
