Do you ever feel like just giving up?
Recently I have had two different conversations with friends about the effect discouragement can have on our desire to “hang in there”. Everybody knows that encouragement can be a powerful motivator. But the opposite is equally true – discouragement can be a powerful de-motivator.
And don’t think for one minute that Satan doesn’t know it.
If you let him, he’ll discourage you to the point of wanting to throw in the towel. His lies go something like this:
You’ll never be able to…
This will never be resolved the way you hope….
You don’t have the right stuff to….
Why try?….
Nothing is ever really going to change…
It’s hopeless…
Just give it up…
Remember what Jesus told his followers? “The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy.”
Who’s the thief? Satan.
And he would like nothing more than to steal your joy, your hope, your confidence and your faith. His mission is to kill your dreams, your purpose and your desires to serve Christ. He is on the war path to destroy your marriage, your parenting, your relationships and your thought life.
Which would be pretty depressing if that’s all Jesus had to say on the subject.
But he didn’t.
After Jesus warns about the thief he makes this profound remark:
“But I have come that you might have life and have it to the full.” (John 10:10)
But I.
Two powerful words.
The thief wants to take you down. But I want to build you up.
The thief wants to take you out. But I want to keep you in.
The thief wants to take you off. But I want to direct you on.
So if you – like all women at some point – are feeling a bit of the discouragement blues, remember what Jesus came to do. He came to give
you
Life.
So don’t throw in the towel. 
