I feel discouraged. How can I feel better?
Here's the answer:
Discouragement is a hard feeling to move past. When you are feeling discouraged, there are many things you can do to feel better.
Discouragement is the opposite of courage. What this means is that when we are feeling discouraged, we do not want to move forward. It can feel as though the mountain is too steep to climb or the race is too long. When we start feeling discouraged, it is good to turn to others for help, including God.
Throughout the Bible, we see God commanding His people to be courageous (Psalm 27:14; Deuteronomy 31:6). God does not want any of His children to feel discouraged. He wants us to take heart and to be strong (Joshua 1:9). Pray to God when you are feeling discouraged and ask Him to help fill up your heart with hope, love, and courage.
It is also good to talk to an adult when you are feeling discouraged. You may want to talk to a parent, teacher, pastor, or counselor. They can help you process your feelings and make changes to your life, if needed.
You can also overcome feelings of discouragement by reading the Bible and reflecting on how God has helped His people in the past. Take comfort in these promises and know that God will never leave you. Just as He was with Daniel in the lion's den and with Paul in prison, He will be with you. Take heart and know that there is no reason to lose hope.
Bible Truth
"Here is what I am commanding you to do. Be strong and brave. Do not be afraid. Do not lose hope. I am the Lord your God. I will be with you everywhere you go" (Joshua 1:9).
"I push myself forward toward the goal to win the prize. God has appointed me to win it. The heavenly prize is Christ Jesus himself" (Philippians 3:14).
"All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them" (Hebrews 11:13-16).
