Discouragement

  All of us feel discouraged along the way in life, and there are a variety of reasons we may experience discouragement.  Regardless of the circumstances and reasons why we may experience this, we all have a choice as to how we will respond when it happens.
  I don't believe pulling ourselves up by the bootstraps is the healthiest response and I don't believe in resigning to the discouragement either.  I think a tempered and authentic response with wisdom, patience and prayer is the best approach.  We need encouragement in the face of discouragement, and there's no greater encourager than Jesus Christ.
  There are many times in life when we need encouragement, that is, someone else to pour courage into us.  We need someone to help lift our spirits and lead us up and out of discouragement.
  This is why we need community.
  We need people to speak into our lives and to bring words that build up rather than tear down.
  And other people need us to be the ones who speak into their lives.
  It may very well be that the path out of our own discouragement begins with seeing someone else in our sphere of influence who is discouraged, and who we can encourage.  Look for the discouraged around you today, and let the encouragement flow.