5 Ways to Overcome the Devil’s Tool of Discouragement

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There are many weapons the devil uses against someone who loves Jesus. Your love and commitment towards Jesus is what drives him made the most. What many Christians don’t realize is that the number one battle that takes place in our lives is in our head. The Bible tells us, “For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ” (1 Corinthians 10:3-5). There are certain satanic strongholds that imprison us each day that we must be aware of. One of these strongholds is discouragement. The devil uses discouragement to attack us. Doubt gives way to discouragement, and the devil uses discouragement more frequently than any other weapon to bring us to a place where we are lost and we don’t know which way to turn. How do you respond to those feelings of hopelessness and depression? Did you know that God has a plan to help you slay the stronghold of discouragement when it comes to destroy your joy? God brings hope in the midst of discouragement. Here are five ways to overcome the devil’s tool of discouragement.

Remember Your Blessings

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The devil will steal, kill and destroy your blessings, just to discourage your walk with God. He wants you to question God’s goodness. He will make you jobless, steal your joy, try to shame you, destroy your children, all so that you will deny your God. There is no extent the enemy will not go to, to see your heart fail. That’s why it’s so important to remember your blessings. Count them one by one. God is wise. He often uses our natural settings and the people in them to move us along the path He has chosen for us. The path may be winding and steep, but it’s never a path of defeat – only victory. Today’s blessings are a result of God’s masterful orchestration of people and events. So if you are facing difficult circumstances, take heart. The answers you are believing in for tomorrow are in God’s hand today.

Pray for God’s Word Over Your Life

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When you are discouraged, God speaks to your heart through His word. The Bible tells us, “For the Word of God is living and powerful , and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to division of the soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). God’s Word challenges us to overcome anxious thoughts. It also brings life, light and the Holy Spirit into the situation. God views His Word as being holy, to the point where He exalts His Word over His name. We all have mountains to face and battles to struggle in this world. We can get over them by praying the Word of God over them. Work the Word of God, because the Word works.

Give Thanks in All Circumstances

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Another way to fight discouragement is by giving thanks in all circumstances. Right now you have trouble and that’s ok. Jesus said that you would (John 16:33). And Jesus really understands (Hebrews 4:15). In fact, the discouragement you’re enduring has a purpose: in it, you are displaying the reality of Jesus to the world in a unique way. The Kingdom of God is most clearly shown to earth when Christians gratefully suffer present trouble because they see a future weight of glory coming that makes everything the world throws at them as “light momentary afflictions” in comparison (2 Corinthians 4:17). There is only one way to give thanks in all circumstances and that is through Jesus. Look at the joy set before you. If the future joy Jesus promises is real and you believe Him, there is no circumstance that can steal your thanksgiving.

Don’t Allow People to Discourage You

The devil will most likely use the people you care about the most to discourage your heart. He will use those people to whom you love and respect to be insensitive towards you with words that will wound and leave you bleeding in your heart. He will use what you care about to break you down the most. If not for your leaders, he will use your own family or your dearest friend. All the devil wants to do is crush your heart’s hope in God. Don’t allow people to discourage you. Sometimes the people you’re closest to will make comments that are particularly hurtful. Sometimes, these people will go as far as trying to discourage your dreams. To fight discouragement, don’t care so much about what others think.

Don’t Allow People’s Words to Get to You

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Whether it is a parent giving you their opinion on your next career move, a friend evaluating what clothes you’re wearing, or your partner saying hurtful words in the heat of the moment, we all have times we feel hurt by what other people say to us and it can be extremely discouraging. The devil wants to destroy your relationships with people. One of the ways he does this is by putting you around people whose words don’t encourage and uplift, but discourage and break you down. Some people have the gift of hurting people. But they may not actually say these things to hurt you. Most of the times people are trying to communicate something and choose to be mean to get your attention. Be quick to learn what to accept and what to ignore. Take the good and ignore the carelessness.