Discouragement: how to fight it?

[oneway123]

Hi all, I'm new to this forum and made an account to ask this question.

I'm in my twenties and have been trying to fight discouragement for years. I also was depressed. Actually, for more than 5 years I believed God didn't love me as much as he loved others, and I tried to 'gain' Gods love but I never was enough. After that God started to work in my life and I can finally say that God loves me and that I don't gave to 'gain' anything because Jesus paid the price already.

However, I keep having these moments of discouragement and negative thinking about myself and my future. In these moments I get this (almost physically) negative feeling that's dragging me down, deeply. Sometimes I can't stop crying for 2 or more hours and I feel really bad. After that it stops, but I still feel bad because it costed a lot of energy. These kind of moments feel like a step back in faith because I lose hope on growing and being steadfast in faith.

Question 1: How can I fight this?
In these moments I know that my feelings are not true and that God loves me and wants me to grow instead of feeling condemned and hopeless. I try to keep looking at God, I pray and read the Bible. But still my feelings seem to take over every time. I know in these moments I find it hard to not only look at myself (self-pity). I also tried putting on worship or listen to sermons, but sometimes hearing someone preach even makes it worse.

Question 2: How to handle criticism?
I'm a sensitive person (due to my childhood as well) and when I feel a bit discouraged criticism hits me hard. I have a great christian friend who helps me a lot, but sometimes he criticizes my faith when he sees a weakness. I feel the enemy is trying to discourage me through this.

On one hand I know I shouldn't be discouraged by what others say about my faith. But now I'm being a bit cautious/scared to share a lot about faith with him - which feels awkward. God is definitely teaching me some things, but I don't know what to do and sometimes discouragement makes me crazy.

Any suggestions? Thanks for reading!

 

[SkyWriting]

Hi all, I'm new to this forum and made an account to ask this question.

I'm in my twenties and have been trying to fight discouragement for years. I also was depressed. Actually, for more than 5 years I believed God didn't love me as much as he loved others, and I tried to 'gain' Gods love but I never was enough. After that God started to work in my life and I can finally say that God loves me and that I don't gave to 'gain' anything because Jesus paid the price already.

However, I keep having these moments of discouragement and negative thinking about myself and my future. In these moments I get this (almost physically) negative feeling that's dragging me down, deeply. Sometimes I can't stop crying for 2 or more hours and I feel really bad. After that it stops, but I still feel bad because it costed a lot of energy. These kind of moments feel like a step back in faith because I lose hope on growing and being steadfast in faith.

Question 1: How can I fight this?
In these moments I know that my feelings are not true and that God loves me and wants me to grow instead of feeling condemned and hopeless. I try to keep looking at God, I pray and read the Bible. But still my feelings seem to take over every time. I know in these moments I find it hard to not only look at myself (self-pity). I also tried putting on worship or listen to sermons, but sometimes hearing someone preach even makes it worse.

Question 2: How to handle criticism?
I'm a sensitive person (due to my childhood as well) and when I feel a bit discouraged criticism hits me hard. I have a great christian friend who helps me a lot, but sometimes he criticizes my faith when he sees a weakness. I feel the enemy is trying to discourage me through this.

On one hand I know I shouldn't be discouraged by what others say about my faith. But now I'm being a bit cautious/scared to share a lot about faith with him - which feels awkward. God is definitely teaching me some things, but I don't know what to do and sometimes discouragement makes me crazy.

Any suggestions? Thanks for reading!

Tell your imaginary friend to stick his knife in some other persons back.
You don't need friends like that. Find people who are more supportive.

 

[oneway123]

Tell your imaginary friend to stick his knife in some other persons back.
You don't need friends like that. Find people who are more supportive.

Thank you for the support. This friend is actually trying to help me and he is walking with the Lord. He has many strengths, but being critical is his weakness (in this case, because I'm too easily discouraged). He is already trying to keep these thoughts for himself and not trying to "help me". But I still find it difficult.

 

[SkyWriting]

Thank you for the support. This friend is actually trying to help me and he is walking with the Lord. He has many strengths, but being critical is his weakness (in this case, because I'm too easily discouraged). He is already trying to keep these thoughts for himself and not trying to "help me". But I still find it difficult.

As I said:

 

[Goatee]

We all have crosses to bear. Remember that Jesus is carrying you, carrying your cross!

Put your trust in Jesus 100%.

Everything in Jesus's name.

 

[oneway123]

We all have crosses to bear. Remember that Jesus is carrying you, carrying your cross!

Put your trust in Jesus 100%.

Everything in Jesus's name.

Thank you, you're so right. I do ask myself if the discouragement thing is a cross (like Paul had a thorn in the flesh to keep him humble), or if it's something that should be battled and overcome. God will hopefully show me some day.

Any personal experiences with recurring discouragement?

 

[Goatee]

Thank you, you're so right. I do ask myself if the discouragement thing is a cross (like Paul had a thorn in the flesh to keep him humble), or if it's something that should be battled and overcome. God will hopefully show me some day.

Any personal experiences with recurring discouragement?

Waw, loads! Life has been hell for 2 years but i wont give up on God! Never!!

 

[John Hyperspace]

Hi all, I'm new to this forum and made an account to ask this question.

I'm in my twenties and have been trying to fight discouragement for years. I also was depressed. Actually, for more than 5 years I believed God didn't love me as much as he loved others, and I tried to 'gain' Gods love but I never was enough. After that God started to work in my life and I can finally say that God loves me and that I don't gave to 'gain' anything because Jesus paid the price already.

However, I keep having these moments of discouragement and negative thinking about myself and my future. In these moments I get this (almost physically) negative feeling that's dragging me down, deeply. Sometimes I can't stop crying for 2 or more hours and I feel really bad. After that it stops, but I still feel bad because it costed a lot of energy. These kind of moments feel like a step back in faith because I lose hope on growing and being steadfast in faith.

Question 1: How can I fight this?
In these moments I know that my feelings are not true and that God loves me and wants me to grow instead of feeling condemned and hopeless. I try to keep looking at God, I pray and read the Bible. But still my feelings seem to take over every time. I know in these moments I find it hard to not only look at myself (self-pity). I also tried putting on worship or listen to sermons, but sometimes hearing someone preach even makes it worse.

Question 2: How to handle criticism?
I'm a sensitive person (due to my childhood as well) and when I feel a bit discouraged criticism hits me hard. I have a great christian friend who helps me a lot, but sometimes he criticizes my faith when he sees a weakness. I feel the enemy is trying to discourage me through this.

On one hand I know I shouldn't be discouraged by what others say about my faith. But now I'm being a bit cautious/scared to share a lot about faith with him - which feels awkward. God is definitely teaching me some things, but I don't know what to do and sometimes discouragement makes me crazy.

Any suggestions? Thanks for reading!

Try a different perspective. When something or someone is seeming to criticize or discourage; look at it as if you must have a growing faith or courage, enough so that someone is being sent to "try" that faith and courage. So when someone is criticizing you, or, discouraging you, it's a statement of, your strength and courage being formidable enough to be tested. Somewhat as if, if you have no faith or courage, nothing will come along to test it since it's not even there. But when you have faith and courage that are leading toward something formidable, then things will be sent to test it, to try to criticize and discourage. Think of it like this: when the "devil" feels threatened by your faith and courage, he'll try to get you to be doubtful and fearful; but in trying to get you to be doubtful and fearful, he's tipping his hand to how formidable he thinks your faith and courage are becoming. It's a compliment that he doesn't even know he's paying you. Does this make sense? Let the compliment feed your faith and courage, then.

 

[oneway123]

@John Hyperspace: wise words! Thinking about this perspective, discouragement can be turned into encouragement. Thank you so much for sharing!

@antletems: thank you for showing adversity is making you steadfast, and be blessed!

 

[Goatee]

@John Hyperspace: wise words! Thinking about this perspective, discouragement can be turned into encouragement. Thank you so much for sharing!

@antletems: thank you for showing adversity is making you steadfast, and be blessed!

God bless you............

Remember, the devil is always trying to take us from JESUS!

 

[sheamiao]

Hi all, I'm new to this forum and made an account to ask this question.

I'm in my twenties and have been trying to fight discouragement for years. I also was depressed. Actually, for more than 5 years I believed God didn't love me as much as he loved others, and I tried to 'gain' Gods love but I never was enough. After that God started to work in my life and I can finally say that God loves me and that I don't gave to 'gain' anything because Jesus paid the price already.

However, I keep having these moments of discouragement and negative thinking about myself and my future. In these moments I get this (almost physically) negative feeling that's dragging me down, deeply. Sometimes I can't stop crying for 2 or more hours and I feel really bad. After that it stops, but I still feel bad because it costed a lot of energy. These kind of moments feel like a step back in faith because I lose hope on growing and being steadfast in faith.

Question 1: How can I fight this?
In these moments I know that my feelings are not true and that God loves me and wants me to grow instead of feeling condemned and hopeless. I try to keep looking at God, I pray and read the Bible. But still my feelings seem to take over every time. I know in these moments I find it hard to not only look at myself (self-pity). I also tried putting on worship or listen to sermons, but sometimes hearing someone preach even makes it worse.

Question 2: How to handle criticism?
I'm a sensitive person (due to my childhood as well) and when I feel a bit discouraged criticism hits me hard. I have a great christian friend who helps me a lot, but sometimes he criticizes my faith when he sees a weakness. I feel the enemy is trying to discourage me through this.

On one hand I know I shouldn't be discouraged by what others say about my faith. But now I'm being a bit cautious/scared to share a lot about faith with him - which feels awkward. God is definitely teaching me some things, but I don't know what to do and sometimes discouragement makes me crazy.

Any suggestions? Thanks for reading!

oh，this is the devil .hope U weren't feel shocked but it surely is .God want U to feel good ,but the devil dont. we need to pay attention to how we feel , sometimes we secretly feel frustrated. U need to catch that feeling right at the beginning and tell god that's devil, get me away from it . U can pray, praise god, be a blessing to others