Photo credit: Nate Haniger
3 strategies to defeat discouragement, so you can be productive in your work.
It’s a common pattern; we have a dream, we set a goal, we make a plan, we get to work, then at some point in the process, we freeze up, not because we’re actually incapable of the task, but because we feel overwhelmed and discouraged.
When this happens, it can be hard to shift out of this locked up mindset and get back to work, but there is hope! In the story of Nehemiah, we find three effective strategies to defeat discouragement. Here’s the background:
Nehemiah had a job to do. He was on a mission to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem. He had the blessing and provision of the king, and the God-given strategy from heaven for how to get it done.
This was important, hard work. It was creative, strategic, organized and diplomatic. This job would honor the Lord, restore a city and bring hope back to a depressed people.
However, he faced some serious opposition.
Throughout the course of his project, Nehemiah was met with a repetitive onslaught of insults, attacks, accusations, doubts, and disbelief from his enemies.
Like Nehemiah, we have big plans. There are great things we are trying to accomplish; God-assignments, dreams, and projects. And we too, face opposition from a lying, scheming enemy.
Sometimes the attacks are from an outside source, but very often the discouragement war is waged in our thought life.
Quiet, but painful lies race through our minds: “You’re a failure. You suck. You messed up again. You’ll never succeed. You’ll never change. You’re not good enough. You’re not smart enough. You’re too old, too young, too inexperienced, too fat, too thin, too loud, too shy. It’s never, ever going to work…..”
Left unchecked, these untruths run rampant, slowly wearing us down, till one day we realize that life is very different than what we’d ever hoped for or intended. Instead of being productive, confident and focused in our work, we become paralyzed, fearful and unable to make any progress.
The Bible warns us of this in 1 Peter 5:8. It says,
“Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.”
Nehemiah’s enemies tried to derail him, but despite their efforts, he succeeded. In his responses, we see three distinct actions we can take to overcome the lies of the enemy and accomplish great things for God.
1. Realize our need for God.
When opposition came, Nehemiah didn’t try to deal with it on his own. He prayed:
“They were all trying to frighten us, thinking, ‘Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed.’ But I prayed, ‘Now strengthen my hands.’’” Nehemiah 6:9
Throughout the project, Nehemiah continued to ask God for help, again and again. He understood that he needed God, and that His greatest strength and resource was His dependence on the Lord.
When we realize our need for God it inspires us to pray. We can ask Him for whatever we need- whether that’s strength, wisdom, favor, provision or a miraculous breakthrough.
With God’s involvement, we can accomplish what we could never do alone. Prayer is an amazing strategy for breaking free from intimidation and discouragement.
2. Recognize the enemy’s strategy.
At one point, the mockers tried to get Nehemiah to stop the work he was doing and come debate with them. But he saw through their scheme; that would be a distracting, potentially deadly waste of time. Instead, Nehemiah denied their request and stayed focused on his work.
“... they were scheming to harm me; so I sent messengers to them with this reply: “I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. ‘Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?’...Then, the fifth time, Sanballat sent his aide to me with the same message…I sent him this reply: ‘Nothing like what you are saying is happening: you are just making it up out of your head.’” Nehemiah 6: 2-8
We don’t have to entertain discouraging thoughts. We can stop and recognize this activity for the destructive waste of time that it is, then get back to work.
3. Remember the truth.
When the people were discouraged, Nehemiah reminded them of what was true- that this was a holy, God-pleasing project and they had God’s favor and help to get it done.
“Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.” Nehemiah 4:14b
When we feel discouraged, we can declare the truth of what God has said about us and our work. We can encourage ourselves by focusing on God’s purposes for us and His promises to us.
Ultimately, Nehemiah was able to succeed in the face of immense opposition by employing a few basics tactics. And we can succeed as well, if we will follow his example and practice these simple but effective strategies to defeat discouragement: continually ask God for help, rebuke the enemy, and declare God’s purposes and promises for the work we’re doing.
1 Day Challenge:
For one day, ask God to help you recognize every discouraging lie that tries to enter your mind. When you do, don’t let yourself entertain it or agree with it. Instead, declare God’s truth about you and your work, and ask Him to help you succeed.
“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
2 Corinthians 10:5