STEAM: Finding Encouragement When You Feel Like You’re Losing Steam

A while back, while lying in bed trying to fall back asleep, I started to pray. But before my thoughts fully turned into words, another thought entered my mind:

“I’m losing steam.”

 I was growing weary of a situation. Doubt starts to creep in. I know in my heart that the tide will turn, but sometimes when you’re in the middle of the storm, it’s hard to see the shoreline.

Have you ever been there?

You know God is faithful. You know His promises are true. But the waiting is hard. The uncertainty is exhausting. The battle feels longer than you expected.

And then I wondered:

What would I tell someone else who was feeling this way? How do I find encouragement when I feel like I’m standing alone?

For me, the answer begins with remembering.

Remembering the times God has carried me. Remembering the prayers He has answered. Remembering the moments when I didn’t see a way forward, but He was already making one.

Because the truth is, God has always been faithful.

I started thinking about the things that lift my spirit: singing hymns, listening to worship music, practicing gratitude, and counting my blessings. Scripture tells us to meditate on things that are good and lovely – Philippians 4:8. When we intentionally focus on what God has done, it changes our perspective.

Then another thought came to mind:

What if encouragement isn’t just something I need to receive, but something I need to give?

Encouraging someone else costs nothing. A kind word, a note, a phone call, a prayer, or simply letting someone know they are remembered can brighten a weary heart.

And as I thought about all of this, a word began to form:

STEAM. I feel like I’m losing steam.

Maybe this was the Holy Spirit reminding me how to keep moving forward when I feel like I’m running low.

S — Sing

The Bible tells us to sing—even in the middle of trials.

In Acts 16 Paul and Silas sang praises while they were imprisoned. Their circumstances had not changed, but their focus had.

Psalm 5:11 reminds us:

“But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy.”

When we take refuge in God, we are reminded that our circumstances do not have the final word.

Colossians 3:16 tells us:

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” – NKJV

And one of my favorite verses is that God sings over us!

Zephaniah 3:17 says:

“The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.”

How amazing is that?

The God of the universe sings over His children.

Maybe I really do need to sing more.

T — Thankful

Gratitude has a way of redirecting our hearts.

Psalm 107:1 says:

“Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.”

And 1 Thessalonians 5:18 reminds us:

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

Notice it says in all circumstances, not necessarily for all circumstances.

God does not ask us to pretend that difficult things are easy. He invites us to find Him in the middle of them.

Ephesians 5:20 encourages us to:

“Give thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Thankfulness shifts our eyes from what we lack to the One who provides.

E — Encourage

One of the quickest ways to lift our own spirits is to encourage someone else.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 says:

“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”

Think of someone who might need encouragement today.

Send a text.

Write a note.

Make a phone call.

Send a card.

Ask someone, “How can I pray for you?”

You never know what someone else is carrying. A small act of kindness may be exactly what they needed.

Sometimes God uses us to remind someone else that they are not forgotten.

A — Available

Are we available for God to use us?

Sometimes when we feel discouraged, we spend so much time focusing on our own struggles that we miss the opportunities God places right in front of us.

Serving others gets our eyes off ourselves and back onto God.

If you’re not sure where to start, your church is a great place to begin. There are always ways to serve—helping with an event, organizing, making calls, greeting people, preparing materials, or simply filling a need.

But serving doesn’t stop inside the church walls.

Maybe it’s helping a neighbor.

Making a meal for someone who is sick.

Volunteering in your community.

Offering your time and gifts where they are needed.

1 Peter 4:10 says:

“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”

God has given each of us something to offer.

M — Mad at the Enemy

Now this one may sound strange.

But sometimes we need to get mad. A good healthy, righteous anger.

Not at people.

Not in a way that leads us to sin. Be anger and sin not – Ephesians 4:26

But we can get angry at the enemy’s attempts to steal our joy, distract us from God’s truth, and make us doubt what we know about God.

Jesus Himself showed righteous anger when He cleared the temple in Matthew 21:12.

The enemy wants us focused on fear, frustration, and defeat.

But we can fight back.

Mark 9:24 captures a prayer many of us can relate to:

“I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

Ephesians 4:27 tells us:

“Do not give the devil a foothold.”

Don’t give him space in your thoughts that belongs to God.

When doubt creeps in, return to Scripture.

When fear rises, return to prayer.

When discouragement comes, remember God’s faithfulness.

So when you feel like you’re losing steam, remember STEAM:

S — Sing
T — Thank
E — Encourage
A — Available to serve
M — Make the enemy mad by refusing to give up your joy

The storm may still be raging.

The waiting may still be hard.

But God is still faithful.

He is right there—loving you, strengthening you, and singing over you.

Keep your eyes on Him.

He is your anchor.