Discouragement can be real torture, and it can lead to worse problems, such as depression and a general sense of hopelessness. In order to effectively combat discouragement, depression, and the like, we need to understand that while these negative mental and emotional states are usually triggered by disheartening physical circumstances or events, the continued negative feelings are spiritual in nature.

          We live in a physical world, but we are also surrounded by an unseen spiritual world where a continual battle is being waged for control of our hearts and minds. It’s a battle of good against evil, a battle between God and His heavenly forces on one side and the Devil and his imps on the other. God tries to steer us in the right direction, toward His blessings, and the Devil tries to wreck our lives any way he can. We can’t fight and win this spiritual battle on our own, without God’s help, but we can determine the outcome through our thoughts, prayers, decisions, and actions. This is why we are told in the Bible to “put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the Devil” (Ephesians 6:11), and “resist the Devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).

          As with every other trap of the Devil, we can say no to discouragement. We can say no to anything that’s negative, because we know that all negativity—all worry, fear, discouragement, condemnation, bitterness, and criticism—is from the Devil. And if the Lord tells us not to worry, which He does; if He tells us not to fear, which He does; if He tells us not to be condemned, which He does; if He tells us not to complain or grumble, which He does; if He tells us not to be bitter, which He does; if He tells us not to be critical, which He does; then we can do what He says. We don’t have to yield to anything negative.

The secret is learning to recognize discouragement for the trap it is.

          When I caught myself thinking discouraging thoughts the other day, I couldn’t reason my way out of it by trying to tell myself that everything was going to be okay. I had to recognize that it was a spiritual attack and stop and pray for Jesus’ help, claiming promises from His Word. I prayed, “Lord, You promised that You will sustain us if we cast our burdens on You, and that You will ‘never suffer the righteous to be moved’ (Psalm 55:22). But Your Word also tells us that ‘he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. Let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways’ (James 1:6–8). So Lord, I ask You to lift this burden of discouragement from me, and then help me to keep my mind on You and Your promises and off of the Devil and his discouraging thoughts and outright lies.”

          We can’t help but have negative thoughts sometimes. We can’t help but have initial feelings of discouragement or depression sometimes. We’re still going to have to deal with those first “fiery darts” of temptation (Ephesians 6:16). The Devil’s still going to try to whisper those initial thoughts in our ear, but we don’t have to entertain them. It doesn’t have to keep going on.

          The Lord’s miracle-working power can free us from the Devil’s discouragement, but only if we turn to Him for help and reject the Devil’s lies. As soon as we realize we’re being tempted to become discouraged, if we’ll focus our mind on the Lord and the positive, and refuse to give place to the negative thoughts, then we’ll have the victory; we’ll put a stop to it before it overwhelms us, before we fall prey to discouragement or sink into the depths of depression. It may take a few minutes to fight the battle. It may even take a few hours. But as long as we’re fighting in the spirit, as long as we’re desperate not to give in to it, we can be assured that we’re going to get the victory because the Lord has promised it.

          When we let the Devil put his spin on our problems, we lose sight of the Lord and His promises and forget His power. The secret is learning to recognize discouragement for the trap it is and take a stand against it immediately, because if we give in to it, the battle becomes much more difficult and it’s much harder to pull out of it. The battle we have to fight in the beginning is nothing compared to the one we’ll have to fight if we allow ourselves to fall into deep discouragement.

          When the Devil attacks you with negative thoughts or feelings, fight back with promises from God’s Word, such as “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1), “When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him” (Isaiah 59:19), and “You [God] will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You” (Isaiah 26:3). Fight that oppression in the power of the Holy Spirit with the Word of God. Don’t let it overcome you. Don’t give in to it! As soon as you start to feel discouraged, as soon as you start to worry, hit the Devil in the face with the Word. Go on the attack!

          It is possible to overcome discouragement. Nothing is impossible for God, and all things are possible to those who believe! (Luke 1:37). We can have victory!