When Discouragement Whispers, Speak Back
I grew up in St. Louis, where one of the city’s most iconic spots is a place called Ted Drewes. Known for frozen custard, Ted Drewes is famous for serving it upside down. The custard is so thick it doesn’t budge—hence the name “concrete.”
One summer night after a baseball game, I decided to try it for myself. I should have accounted for the July heat...but instead I flipped my concrete upside down. You can probably guess what happened. It all came crashing to the ground. My custard didn’t pass the upside-down test. Just like that—splat! An empty cup. A sidewalk covered in custard. And one disappointed kid with no more money. (I'm dating myself, but this was a time when cash was still king.)
We all know that feeling—the letdown after doing everything right, but still not seeing results. You gave your best, and still ended up empty. That’s discouragement. And it’s one of the greatest giants we face.
In 1 Samuel 17, David didn’t just confront Goliath. He first had to battle the internal giant of discouragement. Every day, Goliath taunted the people. Every day, their courage drained a little more. That’s how discouragement works—it’s subtle, but deadly.
He remembered God’s faithfulness. He looked back at past victories to find strength for the current battle. “The God who rescued me before will do it again,” he said.
He built a life of worship. David’s courage wasn’t conjured up in the moment. It was cultivated in the quiet. His heart had been trained in the pasture before he ever stood in the valley.
He spoke faith out loud. When discouragement whispered, David declared truth. He didn’t shrink back—he spoke up.
Jesus did the same. In the garden of Gethsemane, overwhelmed and sorrowful, He remembered the Father, worshiped in obedience, and declared, “Not my will, but Yours be done.”
Discouragement will always try to steal your voice. But like David—and Jesus—you can speak back. Remember. Build. Declare. And watch God restore your courage.