Who doesn't get discouraged from time to time? It usually starts over some small thing--a little disappointment or mistake, a careless remark by a friend or coworker, or a negative thought about ourselves or our situation--but how it grows! Pretty soon everything seems wrong and our outlook becomes so clouded that we want to quit. We wish we could find a hole, crawl into it, and shut out the world. The next while can be quite difficult, but it usually isn't long before something or someone comes along to help us get back on track, thank God.

The real problem is, the longer we continue in that negative vein, the deeper we sink and the harder it is to pull out of it. Worse yet, if we habitually give in to feelings of discouragement, it can lead to depression, and depression is a killer! It destroys the lives of those who are overcome by it, and it can have a devastating impact on loved ones and others who can't help but be affected.

If you are prone to discouragement or depression, there are two things you need to know: First, discouragement and depression are linked to not only your emotional state, but also to your spiritual state; second, there is a sure and simple antidote--a way out!

Just as God is constantly trying to influence you to make the right decisions and have the right mindset, sinister spiritual forces are constantly trying to bring you down. Learning to recognize the negative broadcasts from the dark side is half of the battle against discouragement and depression; learning to take action against that negative input by tuning in to the Lord's positive broadcasts and believing and doing what He tells you is the other. Victory guaranteed!

Keith Phillips
For the Activated Family