Have you ever been discouraged when praying for something or someone? I certainly have! Most of the men and women of the Bible also found themselves discouraged from time to time.
So, what can you do if that is where you are today? I have found these three things to be helpful in times of discouragement.
1. Take inventory of your thoughts.
God knows our every thought before we think it, but sometimes we can be oblivious to our own thought patterns that lead us to a place of discouragement. Once we are aware of what is going on in our heads, we can begin to “take every thought captive to the obedience of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5) and align our thinking to truth.
2. Remember God’s character and His heart.
Everything God does is from a heart of love. He always has our best interest at heart, even when it may seem as though He doesn’t. Unanswered prayer or delayed answers don’t mean that God doesn’t care, as we can sometimes surmise. His delay just means He is still teaching us something about trust. Do we believe He is good, or not? Do we trust Him with our concerns?
3. Don’t give up!
When we pray over a long period of time for something and haven’t seen an answer, it is easy to just throw up our hands and quit, but we often quit just before victory comes. Dear prayer warrior, it is always too soon to give up! (Study Jesus’ parable of the widow in Luke 18.)
When discouragement comes, that is the time to press in, align your thoughts with the Word of God, remember who He is and that He loves you, and then refuse to give up or give in until an answer comes.
Shirley Voorhees
Women’s Connection Administrative Coordinator
Women’s Connection