Step Away from Discouragement

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The Next Right Thing 
by Disney in Frozen 2
Just do the next right thing 

Take a step, step again 

In Frozen Two there is a point towards the end of the movie when Anna has hit rock bottom and everything has changed. When I first heard this song, I thought: No, no, no, when you have hit rock bottom you can’t just turn to the next right thing you have to turn to Jesus, He is the only one that can get you out. Then I watched the movie for a second time and understood how sometimes our mind is so clouded with discouragement we can’t do anything but slowly keep moving. For unbelievers, I hope it is moving to the light of Christ and Christians around them. But just because you are a believer does not mean you will never get discouraged, and you have to keep moving as well. 

For a lot of us, Jesus lives in our hearts, but the comfort we expect to feel does not always come when we think it will. The sad truth is our minds block that comfort at times because it is not what we want to hear. Or maybe our circumstance cloud Jesus because the darkness is so dark. Darkness can be a circumstance, a thought pattern, people around us, or emotions. These things can feel trapping, overpowering, and like God has left you. We can feel stranded. However, the Bible tells us: 

“He will never leave you nor forsake you.”— Deuteronomy 31:6c

This verse gives us the hope that God will never leave us, but we have to choose to believe that everyday and exercise our faith in that place. God can feel silent sometimes. For new Christians this can be where their faith dribbles way. But as seasoned Christians we learn to embrace these seasons as times to trust God more. 

What do your steps look like? What is the next right thing you need to do when you have hit rock bottom? For each person the steps are going to look a little different. Here are three of the most important steps to take as you push forward, away from your discouragement and darkness. 

1. Open the Bible 

When I  feel hopeless, going to the Bible is one of the last thing I think of doing. But as I start reading, peace washes over me. My thoughts are cleared and I begin to get a new perspective.  When God feels silent, I cannot explain how wonderful the Bible feels. The Bible is packed with verses of comfort, so many words and stories of hope. Instead of sitting in that discouragement, sit in the Bible. If you are struggling to even rise to your feet just hold the Bible. The greatest first step is: reading God’s word. God’s word is living (See Hebrews 4:12) which means God is still speaking those things.

I know when I am feeling down I need some place to go in the Bible, but at the same time I get frustrated if one of the verses does not speak to my current situation. If none of these verses speak to you just start reading. Look at old highlighted verses. God will speak to you though His living word. 

Some verse to start with: 

• Romans 8:18
• Psalm 34:17-20
• Exodus 14:14
• Revelation 21:4
• Romans 8:37
• Luke 6:21
• Matthew 11:28
• Psalm 37:23-24

2. Change your thoughts

Thoughts can be loud, negative, and wrong. You can stew in those thoughts instead of God’s truth, if you are not really careful. To change your pattern means to change something when those thoughts come up. Maybe for some people it’s the middle of the day those thoughts hit you or it is random and you can’t change your routine to remove them because they are so random. To you, hold on those thoughts will not always plague you. If you know though when those thoughts will arise switch it up. Maybe when you get home from work you lay on the couch and those thoughts jump at you. Lay on the bed or read a book. When you slightly change your pattern, your perspective switches and you can see things that will help you. The voices will loose their foothold on your life. You will see opportunities you might have missed before. Changing a pattern is hard. But it is a small step that can pull you of a place of darkness and discouragement. 

3. Go on 

Just do that next right thing. As you read the Bible and you change your patterns new solutions will arise. You will know what the next step is, and if you don’t go back to the Bible, seek God more. Keep moving forward even if it is a circumstance you can’t move. If God seems silent or distant, don’t wait for Him to tell you what to do. Take a step of what you think is the next right thing. With the Bible as your guideline, take the little steps and have faith that God’s got you and it is all going to fall in place sooner than you think. 

God goes with you. He is not going to leave you alone. Even when He feels silent, He is right next to you. Don’t hide out in discouragement. Don’t duck away from God, because He has not left you. God pulls us out of the rock bottom. He not only pulls us out; He gives us the strength to stand up before your trials. 

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord you God goes with you; He  will never leave or forsake you”— Deuteronomy 31:6

God has not given up on you. Lift your head, open your bible, God will not stay silent forever. If we allow the rough seas to teach us how to float on God more, maybe, like Anna in Frozen Two, we will find that discouragement can be a place where things are made right and strength is given. 

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He  will never leave or forsake you.” —Deuteronomy 31:6