Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded.
2 Chronicles 15:7
We as Christians have many reasons to celebrate. Yet sometimes, even the most devout men and women may become discouraged. After all, we live in a world where expectations can be high and demands can be even higher. When we fail to meet the expectations of others or, for that matter, the expectations that we have set for ourselves, we may be tempted to abandon hope. But God has other plans. He knows exactly how He intends to use us. Our task is to remain faithful until He does.
When we are discouraged—on those cloudy days when our strength is sapped and our faith is shaken—there exists a source from which we can draw courage and wisdom. That source is God. When we seek to form a more intimate and dynamic relationship with our Creator, He renews our spirits and restores our souls. This promise is made clear in Isaiah 40:
“Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, 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.” (vv. 28-31 NKJV) God offers us the strength to meet our challenges, and He offers us hope for the future. So, if you have become discouraged with the direction of your day or your life, turn your thoughts and prayers to God—and associate with like-minded believers who do the same.
And remember this: your Heavenly Father is a God of possibility, not negativity. He is your Shepherd; He never leaves your side; and the ultimate victory will be His. So how, then, can you ever stay discouraged for long?
If you’re feeling discouraged, try to redirect your thoughts away from the troubles that plague you—focus, instead, upon the opportunities that surround you.