Analyze the "Why"

Take some time to analyze why you are facing frustration.

I know there are some of you out there – many of you – facing immense discouragement. The weight of it sits squarely on your chest, sometimes making it hard to get out of bed in the morning. Perhaps your life is filled with seemingly impossible obstacles today, facing difficulty, hardships, and criticism. Just when it seems you are getting slightly ahead, another mountain presents itself for climbing. You run hard, putting out many fires along the way. You often juggle several balls in the air and inevitably drop one – leaving guilt and, too frequently, Discouragement. I know how difficult it can be. I know because I have been there more times than I can count. I've often felt that I've done all I could, and it simply wasn't enough. I know the feelings of "Why try? I’m failing anyway." I know well the feelings of inadequacy, comparison, and exhaustion. Friends, there is freedom for you. You do not have to live in constant Discouragement that it's too hard, that you're not doing enough, or that you'll never get it right.

The first thing we need to do is analyze why we're frustrated. What is the root? The short answer for some of you may be, "I don't know!"I want to offer some possibilities for you to consider:

1. Are you comparing?

Have you (even unintentionally) spent too much time thinking about someone else's life? Maybe they got the promotion, good kids, the wedding of their dreams, or a new home. Does it seem like you always get the short end of the stick while others around you are blessed and highly favored? If so, then you may be down in a pit of comparison. Galatians 6:4 says, "Pay careful attention to your work, for then you will get satisfaction of a job well done, and you won't need to compare yourself to anyone else." Comparison is a sin that so quickly ensues. The more you look at what others have and their circumstances, the more you will feel discontentment and Discouragement. You will never feel content in the season you are in if you are secretly coveting the season someone else is in. As soon as you stop comparing, you can flourish with what God has given you.

2. Are you under attack?

Sometimes, plain and simple, you are in the midst of a spiritual battle with demonic assignments and weapons sent to wage war against you. We know Ephesians 6:12-13 detail a spiritual war that we cannot see. Sometimes, the enemy will send despair, Discouragement, and discontentment to distract. He is often aware of the threat you are to the Kingdom of darkness. Maybe your life shines a light on the goodness of God. The hope and joy you have are unexplained to many, so he sends Discouragement to confuse, distract, and cause chaos.

3. Are you operating against God?

Are there things in your life, whether sin or disobedience, that do not honor God? Sometimes, we operate with sin that is against the Scriptures, and most of us would know when that is so. However, there are also times when we are outside God's will, as He may have given specific instructions for our lives, e.g., don't date that person, leave that job, remove the children from that school, etc. When we act in disobedience, ignoring the prompting of the Holy Spirit, we will often find the weight of our day-to-day lives unusually heavier.

4. Are you exhausted?

Hebrews 4:1-13 explains a particular rest that is promised to the people of God. Now, the writer is talking about spiritual rest, of course, the rest of knowing our God is in control and is faithful. However, spiritual rest also results in physical rest. When we are not well-rested, we are vulnerable to spiritual attacks we wouldn't have been vulnerable to before.

Points to Ponder:

• Analyze the list above. Are there any you fall prey to today? Is. 41:10 gives us explicit instruction that our good God is upholding us. Take time to pray today that whatever has created the discouragement must bow to the name of Jesus.