Lately, I’ve been in a bit of a battle with discouragement.

It creeps in quietly sometimes—when life feels overwhelming, when progress feels slow, when the path ahead seems too steep or unclear. And tonight in church, while listening to our pastor teach from the book of Nehemiah, I found myself reflecting on that very feeling.

Discouragement is powerful. If we’re not careful, it can drain our strength, cloud our vision, and leave us stuck.

But it’s also a crossroad—a moment of decision.

Because when discouragement comes (and it will), we are faced with a choice:

• We can give in to it.

• We can assign blame.

• Or we can let it propel us toward purpose and renewal.

Nehemiah chose the third option. And what a difference that choice made.

Nehemiah: A Man Who Didn’t Stay Down

Nehemiah was a Jewish exile living in Persia—a man of trust and integrity who served as cupbearer to King Artaxerxes. His position was no small thing. As cupbearer, he had constant, intimate access to the king, and the role itself required loyalty, wisdom, and a steady spirit.

When news reached Nehemiah that the walls of Jerusalem had not been rebuilt—even after the temple had been restored—his heart broke.

A city without walls was vulnerable.
It couldn’t protect itself.
It couldn’t flourish.
It couldn’t be whole.

Nehemiah was discouraged. But he didn’t let that discouragement stop him.

From Discouragement to Action

Instead of spiraling into despair, Nehemiah turned to prayer and planning.
He poured out his heart to God, and then—when the moment came—he acted with boldness and clarity.

The king, who clearly cared for Nehemiah, noticed his downcast face and asked what was wrong. Nehemiah responded honestly, said a quick prayer under his breath, and asked the king for everything he needed to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.

And the king said yes.

Armed with prayer, purpose, and provision, Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem and led the people in one of the most remarkable restoration projects in Scripture. The wall was rebuilt—because discouragement didn’t get the final word.

What We Can Learn from Nehemiah

We all face seasons where we feel like the walls have crumbled—where things feel too broken or too big to fix.

And when discouragement hits, we still have a choice.

We can:

• Let it drag us into depression and inaction

• Use it as justification for blame or bitterness

• Or let it refine us—motivate us—push us toward something better

Nehemiah chose to let his discouragement fuel his purpose.
He turned to God first. He leaned into wisdom and boldness.
And God worked through him to bring restoration.

Choosing Growth in the Face of Discouragement

Discouragement doesn’t disqualify us. It invites us to choose how we’ll respond.

Will we wallow in it—or grow through it?

Will we let it hold us back—or will we hand it to God and let Him move?

“We can choose to allow discouragement to motivate us to find a way to solve the problem and not wallow in it, feeling sorry for ourselves. We can choose to grow from it. We can choose to allow God to work His mighty changes in us for His glory.”

It is, ultimately, our choice.

And sometimes the hardest, holiest thing we can do is simply choose to try again—to pray, to plan, to ask, and to press on in faith.

A Final Thought

If you’re feeling discouraged today, know this:

You are not alone.
You are not without options.
And you are not without hope.

Bring your discouragement to the Lord.
Let it be the beginning of something new.
Like Nehemiah, let it move you—not into despair, but into purpose.

You have the freedom and responsibility to choose.
Choose to rise. Choose to grow.
Choose to trust that God is not finished with your story yet.