There are days where you’ll feel like you don’t measure up. We’ve all been through seasons in our lives where things just don’t seem to be working in our favor. Times where things feel just plain wrong. It can be easy to get overcome by discouragement in these times, and even begin to doubt yourself. You might even feel like a failure.
God tells us again and again of our worth in His Word, and He places people and tools all around us to lift us up when we are down. But we need to be receptive to what He is telling us, and willing to hear where He is leading us. While we pray through these tough times, here are a few things I’ve learned over the years when I need to lift myself out of a season of defeat.
When we are down on ourselves, we often feel alone. And lack of a physical support system can leave us feeling lonely and defeated. Surround yourself with people who will lift you up and encourage you when times get tough. Seek out prayer warriors who will lift you up. Choose wisely, people who you know will not only pray for you but also protect your trust. Avoid those who may want to gossip about your problems, and instead trust a few Godly people who you know have your best interests at heart.
Grab those resources that are encouraging to you, and read or listen to them. Pick up your Bible and keep it in a place of prominence in your home. Find devotionals, articles, and books by godly authors and lay them around your house. Bookmark encouraging websites on your desktop and join Christian groups online.
All of these little things ensure that when you find yourself feeling like a failure, you have access to godly teaching that can help you shift your perspective. There are some amazing bible verses for when you feel discouraged. Mark a few of these in your Bible or write them down and hang them throughout your house. Remember that God created you with attention to detail, and even when you feel like you aren’t measuring up, He is still working in you! The truth of His Word is critical to overcoming discouragement. It counter-balances all of the negative thoughts in our heads.
If fatigue is part of the problem, lighten up on things and take a break; don’t deal with those things that seem like problems when you’re tired!
Fatigue is a major issue for many people. It can be caused by a variety of different things, but there are some simple things that you can do to help overcome it. For example, do not try to tackle everything when you’re tired. This is because when you’re tired, your brain is unable to focus on two tasks at the same time. By not trying to tackle multiple tasks, you’ll have clarity to complete one thing at a time. When you check small things off of a list, you’ll feel those small wins.
I love Psalm 139 where I am reminded that God knows all about me, and He loves me!
Also, I have been encouraged through prayer.
Keep a joy file. Let me explain….
Anytime someone writes you a note of encouragement, put it in that special joy file, then pull those notes out when you need encouragement.
I remember a time when I was feeling like a really bad mom, and was discouraged. I went to my joy file and as I was reading through some of the notes, I found just what I needed. It was a card a friend had written to me a few months earlier, thanking me for my example and encouragement of someone who loved her kids and was a good mom. Even though I didn’t FEEL like a good mom, as I re-read this note it motivated me to try to do better because someone was watching my example. I didn’t want to let her or my kids down by getting discouraged and giving up. This was a simple way for me to remember that I have more value than I give myself credit for. And this goes a long way to help overcome discouragement.
Encourage others.
This will help take your focus off yourself and your problems. Also, more people long for a kind word, than we’ll ever know. Let’s be the ones to encourage them!
Next time you feel like “a failure”, thank God that He is still working in your life and showing you areas where you need to grow. Encourage yourself, and ask God to help you to keep learning and growing!
