Winning Over Discouragement
by Kelly Evans
(Joshua 1:9, NKJV).
Tears streamed forth as I stared at the computer screen. This differed from previous times I had suffered writer’s block. Not only did the right words escape me, I didn’t have any words.
The enemy’s lies jabbed at my mind. “Stop. Quit. You’ll never make it. Give up now before you embarrass yourself and your family. You’re wasting your time.” The enemy fired arrow after poison arrow.
The enemy sets the snare of discouragement to entrap us. It blinds us to the truth of who we are in Christ and makes us believe we have failed. His lie aims to entangle and restrain us from doing what we are called and anointed to do. The enemy knows the calling God has placed on our lives, and he will do anything to stop it.
Yet we can fight back and defeat discouragement through the Lord’s gifts of rest, acceptance, and courage.
Proper rest allows the instrument of our craft—the mind—to function. Writing into the night may be required to meet a deadline as an exception and not the rule. We must avoid overwhelm. Life is hard. Give yourself a break. Jesus says, “my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:30).
Accept the probability of failure. We will receive rejection slips, but they need not break us. Keep going. Keep writing.
The Lord can help us face our fears. Even when we doubt our writing ability, we can press on with courage. Perseverance matters because he called us for a reason.
Everyone faces discouragement. Billy Graham said, “The Christian life is not a constant high. I have my moments of deep discouragement. I have to go to God in prayer with tears in my eyes and say, ‘O God, forgive me or help me.’”
Father God, help us to remember that you have commanded us to be of good courage. When we turn to you, our hope is renewed and strengthened. Thank you for walking beside us and reminding us of who we are in you. Amen.
Kelly Evans is a courageous writer who is thankful God has reminded her of who she is in him. As a poet and blogger, she is always looking to God for strength and hope. She’s also a suspense writer and is currently working on her latest manuscript. You can connect with her at https://kellyanneonline.com.
Wow. As soon as I read this the scripture Habakkuk 2:2 came to my mind. Where it says:
Then the LORD replied: “Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it
This devotion is one that I need to read daily and reminded off often. The voice of the enemy is a loud one, today your devotion is an arrow that pireced the darkness and brought light. Thank you for being obedient to the Lord and using his gift to encourage us.
Discouragement feels a little like, “Did God really say not to eat of the fruit of the garden?” The doubt Satan started sooooooo long ago is still alive and well today. It gets to all of us at some point.
I have to often remind myself not to listen. But it’s hard! And I always wonder why I can be SO productive and sure one day and filled with doubt the next. Our brains/feelings are so complicated.