The world is cooking up an all-you-can-eat buffet of sin to entice us with. As we patiently wait in line to see what God has on the menu for us, we may be tempted to indulge on a snack of discouragement.

Discouragement is a lethal emotion that drenches our walk with God. Struggles with discouragement have the potential to extinguish the fire you have burning in you. The enemy wants to see our light dim to a flicker because when we are discouraged, we limit ourselves.

I travel the fine line between needing constant reassurance and being confident in my abilities. I need encouragement from God. I love when He sends that encouragement and I recognize it immediately as an answered prayer.

Like y’all, sometimes I just want to give up. Yes, flat-out give up. It is easier to seek shelter from the storms that are brewing in the world. I get tired of the fight, tired of the weariness, tired of pushing through. Weary.

When I get tired, near that point of complete discouragement, God sends help. An encouraging sign that He has not forgotten me. A reminder that I can not accomplish anything without Him. 

I love to bask in His creation. Nature is where I find my solace. I am so blessed to live on 10 acres of God-breathed wonder. I often retreat to my spot in the woods to meditate on the Word and pray for healing from discouragement.

Discouragement can leave an ugly mark, a reminder that I am not good enough, I dream too big, I don’t have what it takes, I can’t do this anymore. But when God sends that encouragement that sweeps me up and takes me straight to His arms, It Is Well. 

We can not give up. There is something special in all of us. There is something in us this world needs. When the accuser comes along and whispers, “Give up”, with what strength you have left whisper back, “Not today”.