Discouragement is an equal opportunity offender. Nothing keeps you from experiencing it — not your education, appearance, age, nationality, financial position, marriage, or ministry.

Four years into pastoring our church plant in Puyallup, Washington, I encountered an unexpected bout of discouragement. Our ministry was going strong. We had just launched our fourth campus. It was the best of times for our church; it was the worst of times for me.

I kept waking up at night, wrestling with distracting thoughts. I tossed and turned, rehearsing past disappointments and thinking about my expanding to-do list. When the alarm rang each morning, I rolled out of bed feeling unrested, unsettled, and deeply discouraged. I knew something had to change.

It wasn’t until I took to heart the words of the apostle Peter that I was able to quiet my soul, get some rest, and move past that season of discouragement: “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).

Similarly, King David wrote in Psalm 55:22: “Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.”

When reading the stories of Bible heroes, it’s easy to assume they didn’t experience setbacks and heartaches like we do. If we’re not careful, we can come away with an inaccurate understanding of their reality. In a matter of minutes, we read a chapter or two that describes their lives, forgetting that in real time, these chapters played out over months, years, and even decades.

What we discover in looking honestly at the people portrayed in Scripture is that you and I have something in common with each of them. In addition to all the miracles and milestones, they experienced disappointment, discouragement and delays.

Consider the Old Testament patriarch Joseph. One of the things I most appreciate about Joseph’s story is that it’s real and raw. Joseph could have written a book on discouragement.

It would have been hard enough dealing with the trauma of displacement from his home after Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery. But then, just as it looked like some things were starting to go his way, Joseph encountered another awful predicament.

Do you know that feeling? Sudden starts and stops can be incredibly discouraging. It’s easy to take for granted days of peace and productivity until you enter a time of turmoil and obstacles. You’re minding your own business, stewarding an assignment, when something unexpected happens.

Paul reminds us that if we hang in there, even while dealing with discouragement, we’ll experience things that come only through faithful perseverance.

For Joseph, a new season of trouble began with unwanted advances from the wife of his boss. Genesis 39:6–7 says, “Joseph was well-built and handsome, and after a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, ‘Come to bed with me!’”

Joseph did the right thing and fled. However, Potiphar’s wife made false accusations that landed Joseph in prison.

Of course, God was working in ways Joseph could never have seen in the moment. The same is true for you.

Can someone walk in favor with God while not experiencing the favor of people? The painful answer is yes. God’s favor and human approval are often in opposition.

The apostle Paul knew a thing or two about discouragement. Among other difficulties, Paul was beaten, shipwrecked and stoned (2 Corinthians 11:24–26). He nevertheless wrote 13 of the 27 books in the New Testament.

Had he not navigated so many setbacks and discouraging circumstances, perhaps Paul would not have written as prolifically as he did. In his letter to the church in Galatia, Paul wrote what I imagine jolted their hearts and ratcheted up their resolve: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9).

Persistent discouragement in my life has, at times, made me want to give up. Ongoing discouragement can lead me to wonder whether the good I’m doing is worth it. How about you?

Paul reminds us that if we hang in there, even while dealing with discouragement, we’ll experience things that come only through faithful perseverance.

How many times did Joseph’s mind wander regretfully back to that original moment when he decided to share his dream with his brothers? How many days locked in the prison cell did Joseph wonder whether his decision to do the right thing regarding Potiphar’s wife was causing him harm?

We don’t know the answer, but we do know one thing: Joseph didn’t give up.

The strain of discouragement moves from being debilitating to developing when we too make the decision not to give up. Determining that no matter what you face, you’re going to hang on, keep fighting, and refuse to surrender will strengthen your spirit and mind and steel your inner resolve.

Sometimes we just need to declare, “I won’t allow the temporary feelings of discouragement to keep me from the long-term results that resolve will produce.”

That decision can put a whisper of wind into your sails and set you moving.

Cling to Commitment

Sometimes it can feel like the breakthrough we’re longing for is a receding finish line. We keep running toward it, but it keeps pulling away from us.

Knowing when our circumstances will shift is a luxury we don’t have. What we can develop in the midst of discouragement is a firm confidence that God has not forgotten us — that He is still working for our good. His pursuit of, and provision for, us is unrelenting. The perpetual nature of His goodness gives us hope.

What does discouragement look like in your world? Are there moments when you wonder whether you can go on, only to uncover a measure of “maybe I can hold on a little longer”?

Early in ministry, my wife, Joanne, and I attended a pastors’ conference in Southern California, where I first heard Rick Warren speak. Partway through his talk, Warren said, “You do not determine a person’s greatness by their education, appearance, or talents, but by what it takes to discourage them.”

This thought stayed with me, perhaps because it is so simple. Many of the things that constitute greatness never come to pass if discouragement derails you.

So, what does it take to discourage you? I’m not talking about momentary feelings of disappointment when things don’t go exactly as you’d hoped. Those are regular occurrences for anyone who is attempting hard things. I’m referring to those seasons that rob your sleep and sap your peace.

Discouragement threatens to hinder your growth toward greatness. But if you’re dealing with discouragement, at least it’s an indicator you can still feel stuff. I’m not trying to dismiss your pain. I just want to remind you it is evidence of your passion.

Your commitment is going through a period of testing, but it is still there.

Find Joy

When Joanne and I relocated from Washington to Missouri, our family went through months of mourning. It wasn’t because we felt we had missed God in our decision or wished we could rewind the hands of time and undo the move. We were mourning what we had let go of.

We had known ministry and married life, parenting and pastoring in one place. Granted, we’re only stewards of seasons, assignments and dreams. But when you give your life to something or someone and then have to release it, there’s often pain.

During difficult moments, we reminded our kids it’s better to love and hurt than to have no feelings at all. The sadness and sorrow of leaving simply means you loved deeply. And I would choose the deep relationships that create heartache over emotionless living every day of the week.

Every test is an opportunity to fail. But it’s also an opportunity to pass. And as God develops us through our discouraging seasons, we will pass more tests than we fail.

Joanne and I occasionally laugh and declare to one another, “Hey, it’s my day to be discouraged. You’ll have to wait until tomorrow.” Our objective, whenever possible, is to try not to be discouraged on the same day. That way, we can buoy each other when one of us is about to sink.

Regularly being around someone who is wrestling with discouragement can rub off on us. This is especially true of individuals with strong nurturing gifts. I’m not advocating quarantining discouraged people. What I am suggesting is that we speak the truth of God’s Word over ourselves and others while we’re feeling the strain of discouragement, because there’s something significant God wants to reveal in the midst of it.

What gets our attention determines our direction and affection. Whatever we look for is what we’ll find. This does not mean we should ignore our emotions. But rather than staring at what is straining us, we do need to fix our eyes on Jesus.

We can shift our focus from the obstacles and to the opportunities ahead of us because God has promised we’ll see a harvest if we do not give up.

James 1:2–4 says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

While we’d never choose trials, they have the potential to take us somewhere valuable. The pure joy James refers to is not found in the pain of the moment, but in the discovery of God’s presence in the midst of it.

Every test is an opportunity to fail. But it’s also an opportunity to pass. And as God develops us through our discouraging seasons, we will pass more tests than we fail. The testing of our faith will become a building block for our continued growth.

Maintain Zeal

Discouragement is sneaky. One day we’re flying high, and the next day we’re dragging. Resilience is required for peace to permeate our days.

Ministry provides regular opportunities to practice overcoming obstacles. Will there ever be a time when discouragement stops knocking at the door? I don’t think so. After all, we live in a broken world.

A passage of Scripture that has encouraged me and shaped my outlook through times of discouragement is Romans 12:11–12: “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”

“Never be lacking” could just as easily be stated, “Continue passionately doing what you’ve already committed to do.”

Zeal is enthusiasm, fervor or passion. It’s not a word most people use daily. However, it must be present for us to experience the ultimate objective, which is “serving the Lord.”

It’s not enough to be full of zeal about something. Many people bring a zealot-like approach to their favorite sports teams, political preferences, or coffee orders.

I heard about a Star Wars fan years ago who was so committed to being one of the first to see a premiere, he quit his job managing a restaurant that wouldn’t give him the vacation time he needed. He was so zealous about Star Wars he was willing to leave his full-time job to be part of the few who saw the first showing.

It seems crazy, but that’s how zeal often looks from the outside, and most of us are zealous for or about something. The question I want you to ask yourself is this: Is my zeal about my preferences or God’s?

In Romans 12:11–12, Paul provides a three-pronged approach for remaining zealous in spiritual fervor.

First, be joyful in hope. Hope is a powerful thing. Medical studies suggest hope improves physical well-being and speeds healing.

Hope feeds joy. If I were asked what my top three most valued gifts from God are, I’d put them in this order: grace, love and hope. Hope is in my top three because it’s pregnant with potential that is not based on anything I’ve done in the past or will do in the future. It’s based on a person, Jesus Christ. And His work is done. All I have left to do is share the good news and wait for its culminating work.

We have unlimited reason for hope, even amid our delays.

Second, Paul says we must be patient in affliction. This is a tough one for me.

Have you ever had someone tell you not to pray for patience or God would give you a chance to practice it? It’s a somewhat comical — if theologically unsound — idea. The point is we all want patience, but we rarely welcome scenarios that require it.

Faithful prayer looks different for each person. However, the unwavering main character in faithful prayer is an all-knowing, all-loving God.

Patience provides evidence of the Holy Spirit’s presence and power actively at work in us. It’s not a valued attribute in our speed-consumed culture, but patience is a fruit of the Spirit everyone needs.

When I’m getting advice from someone during an especially tough time, I consider the source. And when I look at the life of Paul, with all its highs and lows, I see good reason to take his advice.

Third, Paul invites us to be faithful in prayer. How would you describe what prayer is to a child? It would probably be a simple definition that focuses on God’s desire to engage with us regularly. It’s good practice to keep prayer simple, especially when you’re struggling.

Some of my prayers are really short when I’m wrestling with patience. Other times, I could go on forever, airing my grievances before the Lord. Both are forms of prayer God welcomes.

Faithful prayer looks different for each person. However, the unwavering main character in faithful prayer is an all-knowing, all-loving God.

Trust Jesus

Let me wrap this up by speaking directly to my fellow church leaders who are dealing with discouragement. You’re not alone, even if it feels that way now.

Feelings aren’t facts. Although feelings are a natural part of who we are, they’re not a good foundation for decision making.

Maybe you hesitated even to read this article for fear I’d propose some simplistic, unattainable approach to breaking free from discouragement. There are no easy answers, but I do want to remind you of the final words of Jesus prior to His ascension in the Gospel of Matthew.

After inviting His followers to join Him on His mission of making disciples, Jesus made this statement: “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).

That’s not just a verse to reach for on your death bed. It is a promise on which you can depend today — and every day.

Adapted from Delayed Destiny by Jeffery Portmann.

This article appears in the Fall 2022 issue of Influence magazine.