“But David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.”
-1 Samuel 30:6
“Do you ever get discouraged?” How do you deal with it? A professional writer says he has overcome discouragement by using a stop watch. When his manuscript is rejected he gives himself three minutes to feel sorry for himself. Then he snaps out of his disappointment and gets busy doing something constructive.
Discouragement is a form of mistrust, a believing in adverse circumstances more than in a never-changing God. But how do we deal successfully with discouragement on a daily basis?
Refuse to judge life by any one situation or experience. Learn to take all things into consideration before you settle on “your mood for the day.” When something unpleasant happens, do not ruin the rest of the day by dwelling on it. The Apostle Paul realized the importance of taking everything into consideration when he wrote these famous words, “God works all things for good to them that love God and are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).
Do everything possible to better the situation that has caused your discouragement. If it is physical illness, seek medical help. If it is a financial dilemma, get expert advice. If your problem is marital, go to a qualified minister or a trained marriage counselor. Take action to make your life happier.
Learn to encourage yourself through spiritual meditation. That is what King David did. During one of the bleakest days of his life, David, “encouraged himself in the Lord, his God” (1 Samuel 30:6). This is the only reliable way to find encouragement in life’s midnight hours. When the outlook is bleak, and the inlook’s discouraging, try the uplook – it is always encouraging! How about opening your Bible now to find the encouragement you need.
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