Overcoming Discouragement: Rebuilding with Rest, Resolve, and Faith

“Then the people of Judah said, ‘The work crews are worn out, and there is too much rubble. We can’t continue to rebuild the wall.’” Nehemiah 4:10 (GW)

Discouragement is curable. When I get discouraged, I need to head straight to the book of Nehemiah. This great leader of ancient Israel understood there were four reasons for discouragement.

First, I get fatigued. I simply get tired as the laborers did in Nehemiah 4:10: “Then the people of Judah said, ‘The work crews are worn out, and there is too much rubble. We can’t continue to rebuild the wall’” (GW).

Human beings wear out. I can’t burn the candle at both ends. If I'm discouraged, I may not really need to change anything major in my life. I may just need rest! Sometimes the most spiritual thing I can do is take a nap.

Second, I get frustrated. Nehemiah says there was rubble all around, so much so that it was getting in the way of rebuilding the wall. I have “rubble” in my life. Anytime I start doing something new, the rubble (the frustrations that keep me from working toward my goal) starts piling up?

If I don’t clean it out periodically, it will stop my progress. I can’t avoid it, so I need to learn to recognize it and dispose of it quickly so that I don’t lose focus on my goals. 

Third, I think I've failed. Nehemiah’s people were unable to finish their task as quickly as originally planned, and, as a result, their confidence collapsed. They likely thought, “We were stupid to think we could ever rebuild this wall.”

So when I don’t reach a goal on time, I should just set a new goal and don’t give up. Everybody fails; everybody does foolish things.

The issue is not that I failed; it’s how I respond to my failure.

Don't give in to self-pity? Don't start blaming others? Don't start complaining that it’s impossible? Do refocus on God’s intentions and start moving again?

Finally, I give in to fear. Giving in to fear leads to discouragement. Nehemiah 4 suggests that the people most affected by fear are those who hang around negative people. One way to control the negative thoughts in life is to spend less time around negativity.

I may get so discouraged by my fear that I say, “I can’t handle this. It’s too much responsibility.” Maybe it’s the fear of criticism. Or you think you don’t deserve to succeed. But fear will destroy your life if you let it. Instead, you can choose to resist discouragement by saying, “God, help me get my eyes off the problem and the circumstances and keep my eyes on you.”

I don’t have to stay stuck in my discouragement. Ask God to help me figure out the reason for it, address it, and start moving forward in confidence.

In summary:

Discouragement, as illustrated in Nehemiah 4:10, is a common but curable struggle, and Nehemiah identifies four key causes: fatigue, frustration, failure, and fear. Just like the worn-out workers surrounded by rubble, we too can become tired and overwhelmed by life's clutter, making it hard to stay focused. Feelings of failure arise when progress stalls, but setbacks don’t define us—our response does. Fear, especially when fueled by negativity, can paralyze us, convincing us we’re not enough or can’t handle what’s ahead. Yet, by identifying the root cause of our discouragement, seeking God’s guidance, taking practical steps like rest, and shifting our focus from the problem to God’s purpose, we can regain clarity, courage, and momentum.

Bottom Line:

Discouragement is temporary and often rooted in fatigue, frustration, failure, or fear—but with rest, renewed focus, and trust in God, I can overcome it and keep moving forward.