When Discouragement Stalks

Yesterday, discouragement seemed to stalk me around every corner—I couldn’t shake it.

I’ve learned that discouragement can come from anywhere, whether it’s physical exhaustion, a string of minor annoyances, or one of life’s bigger heartbreaks. Sometimes, it takes just a small thing to throw our whole perspective off balance. As Mr. Scrooge told the ghost of Jacob Marley, his appearance could be the product of “a slight disorder of the stomach—an undigested bit of beef, a blot of mustard, a fragment of an underdone potato…”

But unlike Scrooge’s comical suspicions, our discouragement is real—and it fills our minds with one-sided, misleading propaganda.

Like poker players who lose composure after a setback, we can spiral when things go wrong. The key is to step away, reset, and give ourselves permission to regroup before jumping back in.

Take a walk, or get in the car and drive somewhere. Use these opportunities to talk to our heavenly Father—tell Him exactly how you feel and hold nothing back.

The Bible tells us that Moses talked to God as a man talks to his friend. You might think, “Well, that was Moses,” but in Christ, we are sons and daughters of God—and His beloved friends. God is the kind of friend you can tell anything to. He can take it, and He’s not going to judge you harshly for speaking your heart. God is patient, loving, and very gentle with us too.

We’re not the first to feel spent and defeated. Scripture is full of people facing overwhelming discouragement, including the prophet Elijah.

In 1 Kings 18–19, Elijah is on a dizzying roller coaster of emotions. With God’s power, he brings drought on the land, faces the hostile King Ahab, and throws down a challenge—two altars, one to Baal and one to the Lord. Baal’s priests shout, dance, and cut themselves, but nothing happens. Elijah quietly prays, drenching the altar in water, and God sends fire that consumes everything.

The people turn to God, and the drought ends—a huge win, but it doesn’t last. Soon Jezebel is after Elijah’s life, and he’s left running—worn out and begging God to take his life.

Elijah collapses under a tree, ready to give up. If this were a movie, the scene would fade to black. But an angel appears, urging Elijah to eat and drink—in that moment, God provides exactly what he needs to continue.

After eating, Elijah lay down to sleep again. The angel woke him again and told him to eat and drink, so he’d have strength for the journey God still had for him.

Sometimes what we need most is simply some food, water, and rest to recharge our batteries. That’s exactly what Elijah needed. After God met his physical needs, Elijah could see past his earlier discouragement and was prepared to do what God asked him to do.

Elijah’s story reminds us how vulnerable we are when we’re Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired—HALT. Letting ourselves get too far in any of those directions is a breeding ground for discouragement.

Just hours earlier, Elijah had given up. But God had other plans, and nothing Elijah said or did could change those plans.

If discouragement convinces you that your story is over, remember: God restores, renews, and writes the next chapter, just as He did with Elijah and Peter. He hasn’t given up on you.

So, when you’re feeling low, don’t hesitate to take a break—get something to eat, let yourself rest, and trust that caring for your body and soul will help you see God and your circumstances in a new, more hopeful light.

Remember:
“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”
—Psalm 34:18

. . . and that’s what I know today.