To be discouraged is to be disheartened. The dictionary describes discouragement as being deprived of courage, hope, or confidence. Many variables prompt discouragement including disapproval, rejection, and intimidation. It can come through outside forces pressing in, or, result from inward turmoil of perception and feelings.

A common characteristic of discouragement is the inability to move forward. For instance, if a person works diligently on a project and their efforts go unrecognized or criticized they might feel a lack of energy or motivation to continue on. When this takes place, the person’s expectations become disappointed, and their motivation becomes deflated. If this happens repeatedly, they may experience a strong sense of failure. This can apply to any arena in life.

What most people don’t realize is that discouragement is one of the biggest strategies Satan uses to immobilize our contribution in life. God has given each of us gifts and talents to share in this world. Discouragement is the devil’s way of not only stealing what could be our best efforts in present times, but ultimately our future as well. Hence, a person who struggles with discouragement often settles for less because doubting and nagging feelings plague them and they wonder–what’s the use?

One of the major downfalls of this struggle is that a person is kept from reaching their full potential. Life, and the opportunities it brings, can subsequently pass them by. If you recognize some of these traits in your own life you are not alone. Blue Skies: Beyond The Dark Clouds Of Broken Thinking helps us to overcome discouragement.

Joy and peace come from learning to walk in the design God has for our thinking. Every day we battle with old thought patterns and emotions that hold us captive. Blue Skies: Beyond The Dark Clouds Of Broken Thinking leads us step by step; taking us deep into truths that set us free to live into a new narrative, one of confidence and purpose—the story we were meant to live.