II Corinthians 4:8-11;15-18 We are pressured in every way [hedged in], but not crushed; perplexed [unsure of finding a way out], but not driven to despair;  hunted down and persecuted, but not deserted [to stand alone]; struck down, but never destroyed; always carrying around in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the [resurrection] life of Jesus also may be shown in our body…

The Bible provides valuable insights about where to focus our attention and where not to. It’s no wonder we persevere despite challenges. While our outer selves may gradually deteriorate, our inner beings are renewed each day. We view our minor, temporary troubles in light of eternity. We see our struggles as opportunities that produce an eternal glory that far outweighs anything we face in this life. We choose to focus not on what is visible, but on what is unseen, for what is seen is temporary, while the unseen realm is eternal.

It’s far too easy to focus on our troubles, failures, weaknesses, and tragedies. I know I have done it more than I would like to admit. When I do, two distinct things happen. First, if I am focused on the negative, I can’t focus on the truth. The truth is that Jesus has already overcome every trial and injustice and loss with which I am wrestling. Once I allow myself to focus on problems, I lose sight of the truth. Who I am and what I have been called to do moves outside of my periphery.

This leads to the second consequence—I get stuck. Not only am I not looking for a way to move forward, but my capacity to interpret the world around me becomes so compromised that I may choose to do nothing and rather wait to be rescued. If resiliency is directly correlated with buoyancy, it cannot co-exist with stagnation. If we want to lead well, this is where we must be certain that our perspective is in line with His Truth.

So, what’s the solution? We must shift our perspective. Rather than perceiving our difficulties as burdens threatening to take us out, we could consider them to be substances producing eternal, weighty glory. Instead of viewing life and the world around us through a microscope, dissecting each component to the point of exhaustion and paralysis, we need to start looking through a telescope. All of us will experience discouragement in our lives from time to time. But the way we choose to process the feeling will determine whether we stay down when we fall or dust ourselves off and get back up again.

Disappointment is a natural feeling, but it’s important to protect ourselves from falling into feelings of dejection, depression, and despondency. Interestingly, all of these terms are synonymous with “discouragement,” which the Cambridge Dictionary defines as a “reduction in confidence and enthusiasm.”