How to Keep Your Heart Charged Up in Hard Times
Photo by Markus Winkler
Whenever you feel afraid, like a failure, or like you have no worth, these are not emotional signals of what’s actually true. They are signs that you need to remember who the Lord is and what He’s saying. David talked about this:
Therefore my spirit faints within me;
my heart within me is appalled.
I remember the days of old;
I meditate on all that you have done;
I ponder the work of your hands.
I stretch out my hands to you;
my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. (Ps. 143:4–6 ESV)
All of us need the Lord. We actually need Him the way parched land needs water.
Take a few moments to remember what the Lord has done for you. Ponder Him and reacquaint yourself with His truth, so your heart comes back to life.
Remembering the Lord
Here are a few key things to remember whenever you feel worn down and discouraged. They are based on the truth of Scripture, and that’s what your heart needs—the living words of the Lord.
God loves you. Not just a little, but more than you can imagine (1 John 4:9–10).
You have incredible value to the Lord’s heart (Isa. 43:1).
God is faithful to forgive all your sins, every time, so when you repent, it’s done. You can choose to believe this and trust Him with all your heart (1 John 1:9).
Be sure to forgive yourself the way He’s forgiven you (Ps. 103:12).
He is a good Father, and He will always think like a good Father toward you. He knows your weaknesses, and His love remains undeterred (Ps. 103:13–14).
What He says is the most important thing. It trumps all other voices (John 10:4–5).
Fix your thoughts on the Lord and what He says is true, because this will give you peace (Isa. 26:3).
If you’re worried that your desires don’t line up with God’s heart, remember He’s the One who works inside you so that you come to want what He wants (Phil. 2:13). You can ask Him to come and do this more.
When you recognize that you’re dealing with fear or self-hatred, choose to work on your trust in the Lord (Prov. 3:5).
Put aside the fear for a moment and consider this question: Are you willing to take a risk with God and believe that the desire of your heart might actually be from Him in the first place, and He really does want to give you this thing? (See Ps. 37:4.)
God’s love for you will never fail or fall short (Isa. 54:10).
God is RICH in mercy toward you! Take those words seriously and choose to believe them with all your heart the next time you feel like a failure (Eph. 2:4).
Renewing Your Mind
We capture, like prisoners of war, every thought and insist that it bow in obedience to the Anointed One. (2 Cor. 10:5b TPT)
In this wild season when everything is different, don’t let your thoughts follow any path except the path of truth.
Take your thoughts captive. This means purposefully thinking the thoughts you want to think—good thoughts, godly things—instead of letting fear or discouragement push you around. The Bible calls learning how to think in a godly way renewing your mind.
As you renew your mind, it’s important to speak out loud who God is and what He’s done for you (or possibly for someone else). Remind yourself of the truth often. Write it on notecards. Set reminders on your phone. Do what you need to do to keep His truth fresh in your mind and heart.
This Week’s Activity
Where do you need to renew your mind so you can think according to God’s truth?
Pick one area where you’re struggling. Maybe it’s fear, shame, discouragement, self-hatred, etc.
Find a Bible verse that tells you what’s actually true in that area, and then “build your thoughts” on that verse every day this week. If you’re afraid of something, choose a verse that talks about fearlessness. If you feel unloved or not very special, choose a verse that talks about God’s passion for you and the plans He has for you.
Purposefully correct your thoughts whenever they try to tell you bad things. “No. This is the truth of God, and I believe it.”
Interested in more about relationships and the Lord’s heart? Check out some of our other posts:
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