What does discouragement look like?
Discouragement can be seen in different ways, in our:
- Motivation. Prov 17:22 reminds us that a downcast spirit dries up the bones; it has an effect on us physically. When we are discouraged, it is easy to lose the motivation to do anything – personal prayer, studying the Bible, and having fellowship all suffer as we lack the energy to do these things. Procrastination follows and we find we become apathetic and neglect our duties and responsibilities. We focus on the problems and our enthusiasm fades. We lose interest in life and find it hard to want to do anything.
- Expectation. 1 Cor 2:9 reminds us that God has prepared great things for us, but when discouragement takes a hold, our expectations are low. We live within ever-decreasing boundaries, our lives retricted by our lack of faith as we do not believe God will ever change our situation. Hab 2:3 reminds us to wait for the vision to come to pass and Hab 3:17-18 reminds us that hoping in God and rejoicing in Him are choices we make by faith, even when there is no visible evidence that He is working.
- Communication. When we are discouraged, we speak negatively. Jesus reminds us that our speech is an indication of what is happening in our hearts (Luke 6:45) and pessimism, negativity and despair are communicated through our speech. We become moody, irritable and despondent, which is why we are urged to guard our hearts, since all life springs from within. (Prov 4:23)
- Resignation. The final aspect of discouragement is effectively when we give up. We believe change would require too much effort and we cannot see any hope that change will come. When we reach this level of discouragement, we are in a very dangerous position. Micah 7:8 reminds us that ‘though I have fallen, I will arise!’, but when we are discouraged, we do not believe this truth, being locked into the present viewpoint.