How To Move From Discouraged To Encouraged With A Mentor

“Sometimes I feel like a dark cloud is following me around. I just can’t seem to beat this feeling of discouragement. I’m not depressed enough to be on meds but most of the time, I’m not over the top happy and jumping for joy either.”

My friend leaned forward over her cup of coffee, and slightly smiled, “I didn’t want to text or email, I just wanted to meet with you today face to face.”

Discouragement can make our hearts heavy and cloud our vision if we try to do life alone. The world tries to tell us to “suck it up!” and “pull yourself together.”

[easy-tweet tweet=”Doing life alone was not God’s plan for any of us. Growth cannot happen in isolation.” user=”@JaymeHull” hashtags=”#Mentors”]

One of the things I love about the Millennial generation is their honesty.

They will tell you exactly what’s on their heart and mind.

More importantly, they will tell God the gut-honest truth and I’m certain God loves every conversation!!

#1 Way to Move from Discouraged to Encouraged:

Talk through the issues of life and pray with your Mentor.

This week while traveling in Dallas, I met with Linda, my incredible mentor. My heart was so encouraged and full of hope by the end of our time together. (Linda’s story is mentioned in my book Face To Face in Chapter 6!)

I needed to hear her words of encouragement. I needed to hear her pray for me and over me.

There is absolutely nothing more powerful than hearing someone sitting beside you and lifting you up to God by name. Meeting with my mentor is always life-changing.

 

 

#2 Way to Move from Discouraged to Encouraged:

Begin each day speaking TRUTH into your own life and accept your Mentor’s words of hope.

Tell yourself the truth.

God loves me. (John15:9)

God says I’m enough. (2 Cor. 2:14)

I am a child of God. I have all the hope I need. (Romans 8:20-25)

God has a plan and a purpose for my life. (Jer. 29:11-12)

The Lord’s ways are perfect. (Hebrews 12:1-3D

I choose Joy and will share it with others today. (John 15:11)

 

#3 Way to Move from Discouraged to Encouraged:

Surround yourself with good choices and good people. Pray for discernment.

In its simplest definition, discernment is nothing more than the ability to decide between truth and error, right and wrong. Discernment is the process of making careful distinctions in our thinking about truth. In other words, the ability to think with discernment is synonymous with an ability to think biblically~ John MacArthur

Godly discernment is a game changer. Your Mentor can guide you through seeking God’s Word for discernment and all decision making.

“God honored Solomon’s request because he was pleased with what Solomon had asked. This teaches us that God values discernment and honors those who seek after it.” 

Tim Challies

Jesus offers a fresh start, and in some mysterious way, He can get glory even out of your discouragement, mistakes and failures.

Every part of your story matters to God. Did you know God will use and redeem and transform you and I through our life stories? Yes. Even our discouragement. It’s true.

We’ve all made mistakes. Guilt and shame can weigh us down and make us feel discouraged and disqualified from being used by God. Moving forward with Jesus requires repentance and obedience, but Scripture is clear, “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus . . . you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God” (Romans 8:1; 1 Corinthians 6:11).

 

 Today’s Challenge 

I challenge you to lay down the chains of regret and guilt and walk boldly in the truth, exploring the depths of God’s love for you. God knows you by name. God loves you.

Walking with Christ and a mentor can help you reclaim you joy and live with hope. It will make you a bold and powerful woman of God. It will free you to be yourself rather than trying to be like someone else.

By connecting with a mentor, you can do the hard work now to discover who you are and how to live the encouraged life. You can explore your beliefs and what defines you. You can figure out where you came from and where you’re going. You can stop reacting to life, and live it fully.

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