Pathway to Peace

Rising Above Discouragement and Rediscovering Hope

Discouragement and a loss of hope are at an all-time high as the world shifts and becomes darker and darker. Your thoughts are a powerful tool that holds onto memories that can affect your feelings and emotions. It’s important to remember that these feelings are temporary and that we have the power within us to overcome them. When you feel hopeless, you cannot see or envision beyond your present circumstances. What do you need to put death to? Fear of the future? Old relationships? Failures? Financial challenges? Addictions? Depression and anxiety? Grief?

Life is full of ups and downs, and there are times when we all face discouragement and loss of hope Whether it’s a setback in our careers, a relationship gone sour, death of a loved one, or simply feeling stuck in a rut, these moments can leave us feeling defeated and wondering if things will ever get better.

You may feel that your life is a waste and you do not have a purpose. You may feel that you’re not enough when you compare yourself to others. However, whatever you tell yourself is a lie from the enemy. The devil comes to kill, steal, and destroy but God comes to give you life abundantly. John 10:10

You were born with a purpose. Every hard place you’ve experienced has been preparation for your next level or phase in life. Hope is the key that unlocks the endurance, strength, resilience, and stamina to keep going forward. Grace is the gift that the Lord provides to sustain you. Nothing is more relevant in a moment of despair than having hope. When you hang onto hope, you gain empowerment to make decisions that can impact and change the trajectory of your life.

Let’s take a deeper look at the meaning of hope.

Hope:

Noun:   the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out of the best:

              to give up hope

              A particular instance of this feeling:

              the hope of winning

Verb:     (used with object) hoped, hoping

              To look forward to with desire and reasonable confidence.

              To believe, desire or trust:

              I hope that my work will be satisfactory.

Verb:     (used without object), hoped, hoping

              To feel that something desire may happen:

              We hope for an early spring.

When you put your trust in people and things, you are bound to be disappointed because “man” will always fail but when you seek the Lord, He will provide unspeakable strength, wisdom, and endurance to keep going despite the obstacles and challenges in life.

Do not put your trust in princes,
    in human beings, who cannot save.
⁴ When their spirit departs, they return to the ground;
    on that very day their plans come to nothing.
⁵ Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
    whose hope is in the Lord their God.

Psalm 146:3-5

In this blog post, we will explore strategies to help you rise above discouragement and reignite the flame of hope within you. We will also fill the void with understanding the importance of building a relationship with the Lord.

Here is a seven-step process that will help you focus and release feelings of despair.

1.  Acknowledge and Accept: The first step towards overcoming discouragement is acknowledging and accepting your emotions. It’s okay to feel down and disappointed; denying these emotions will only prolong the healing process. Allow yourself to experience and process your feelings, but also remind yourself that they don’t define you or your future.

2.  Reflect and Reframe: Take time to reflect on the source of your discouragement, disappointment or anger and evaluate your perspective. Sometimes, our negative thoughts and beliefs can magnify our feelings of hopelessness. Challenge those thoughts and reframe them into more positive and empowering ones. Replace “I can’t do it” with “I am capable of overcoming this challenge.”

3.  Seek Support: Remember, you don’t have to face discouragement alone. Reach out to friends, family, or a trusted mentor who can provide a listening ear, encouragement, and guidance. Sharing your feelings and experiences with others can provide valuable insights and remind you that you’re not alone in your struggles.

4.  Set Small Goals: When hope feels distant, it can be helpful to break down your larger goals into smaller, achievable ones. Focus on taking small steps forward each day. Celebrate even the tiniest victories, as they will build momentum and give you a sense of progress.

5. Practice Self-Care: During challenging times, it’s crucial to prioritize self-care. Engage in activities that bring you joy, relaxation, and rejuvenation. Take care of your physical, mental, emotional, psychological, and spiritual needs through exercise, proper nutrition, quality sleep, prayer, reading the Bible, and worship. Listening to worship music uplifts the soul. Nurturing yourself will increase your resilience and help you bounce back from discouragement.

6.  Embrace Change and Adaptability: Often, discouragement arises from unexpected changes or setbacks. Instead of resisting change, embrace it as an opportunity for growth rather than dwelling on the problem. Remember, setbacks are not permanent roadblocks but steppingstones toward your ultimate success.

7.  Cultivate a Positive Mindset: A positive mindset is a powerful tool in overcoming discouragement. Surround yourself with positivity by practicing gratitude, visualizing your future success, and filling your mind with uplifting and motivational resources. Engage in activities like journaling and meditating on the Word to shift your spirit and encourage an optimistic outlook.

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.
For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Rom 8:5-6

You will need to have patience, perseverance, and self-compassion. By implementing these strategies and embracing a proactive mindset, you can rise above your challenges and rediscover the hope that lies within you. God provides all power and strength, but you must believe in yourself and keep moving forward despite the challenges and obstacles.

Where there is hope lies peace.

Yolanda Berry

When you build a relationship with the Lord, you will be filled with the Holy Spirit which will empower you to overcome the most challenging circumstances. It starts with a foundation of faith, trust, and belief in the character of God and His righteousness. His Word is truth and sustains you. He is the guiding hand that leads you and directs your path. You no longer question the simplicity or the complexity of life. You may not understand the full picture, but the Lord will provide the missing puzzle pieces within the span of your life.

For in this hope, we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.

Rom 8:24-26

The Lord values you so much that He gave His Son for you. You are priceless. You are His treasured possession. Once you realize your worth, you won’t settle for less. You are granted the opportunity to live an abundant life full of peace, power, strength, wisdom, and prosperity. Don’t allow the enemy to strip you of God’s promises. The Lord has given you the authority to destroy anything that is not in alignment with His plan and purpose for your life. The question is do you believe it? Seek the Lord for clarity and wisdom. You will be raised from the pits of darkness into his marvelous light. Let His love guide you into all truth and infuse you with hope.

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Through the many trials and storms of life, this e-book was written as a sentiment of God’s glory of His faithfulness in my life. It’s a continuous reminder of His promises. May it anchor your faith and calm the storms in your life.

You can purchase your copy here:

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Meditation and Reflection

1 Corth 6:19-20

¹⁹ Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; ²⁰ you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

¹⁹ Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; ²⁰ you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

Rom 10-11

¹⁰ But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life^[d] because of righteousness. ¹¹ And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of^[e] his Spirit who lives in you.

Rom 8:12-13

¹² Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. ¹³ For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.

Rom 8:18

¹⁸ I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.

Rom 8:28

²⁸ And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who^[i] have been called according to his purpose. 

Rom 8:31

³¹ What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

Rom 8:35-39

⁵ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? ³⁶ As it is written:

“For your sake we face death all day long;
    we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”^[j]

³⁷ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,^[k] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹ neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Heb 11:1

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

Matt 6:19-21

¹⁹ “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. ²⁰ But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matt 6:24-25

²⁴ “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. ²⁵ “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?

Matt 6:27

²⁷ Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life^[a]?

Matt 6:33

³³ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.

Luke 8:14

¹⁴ The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature.

1 John 5:11

¹¹ And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

1 Tim 6:9-10

⁹ Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. ¹⁰ For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

1 Tim 6:17-19

¹⁷ Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. ¹⁸ Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. ¹⁹ In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.