Overcoming Discouragement
This month, nothing seemed to go as planned. We stepped into the new year with enthusiasm, eager to establish a family routine, but that vision has yet to take shape. Despite our best efforts, life has simply unfolded differently. As a result, seeds of discouragement have begun to take root in my heart.
And so today, as I finally sit back down in my home office to write, I feel a bit overwhelmed. I deeply desire to share words of encouragement and hope with others, but when it comes time to put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard😉), doubt creeps in. I begin to question what I have to share that would matter to anyone else.
Imposter syndrome is nothing new to me. I wrestled with it throughout my twenty-one years of teaching. You’d think that after so many years, confidence would come naturally. To some degree, it did; yet, there was always a nagging voice in my mind whispering, “Do you even know what you’re doing? Others are so much better at this than you.”
The truth is, no matter what we do, there will always be someone who is better at it than we are.
But rather than allowing ourselves to be discouraged or feel inadequate, we need to lean into the One who IS Able and trust the gifts He has given us. God has uniquely created and equipped us according to His purposes. When we shift our mindset and embrace this truth, we experience both confidence and peace.
Instead of seeing others as competition, we should view them as valuable resources for growth. If someone is a better writer, I want to soak up their wisdom. If someone cooks with more skill than I do, I want to learn from them. If someone has mastered work-life balance, you’ll find me eagerly asking, “Teach me!”
In moments of discouragement, I am reminded that we are ALL works in progress. And that is okay. Even those who seem to have it all together are continuously learning and growing. If not, are they truly living?
As for me, I choose to embrace today’s opportunity to sit with God, asking Him for confidence in the path He has set before me and for protection against discouraging thoughts. God’s promise reassures me:
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Isaiah 41:10
How will you release feelings of discouragement today? What truth from God’s Word will you cling to in this season?
