How to Overcome Discouragement: St. Francis de Sales on Sadness and Sorrow
- Talmida Ti
- Jul 9
- 5 min read
In this chapter, St. Francis de Sales teaches that not all sadness is the same. Some sorrow leads us to repentance and deeper union with God, while worldly sorrow pulls us toward anxiety, fear, and spiritual discouragement. He explains how to recognize the difference and offers practical remedies for finding peace and remaining faithful during difficult seasons.
In this post, you'll find:
A modern-English translation of Chapter XII of Introduction to the Devout Life
The difference between godly and worldly sorrow
Why the devil uses discouragement as a spiritual weapon
How to overcome discouragement and sadness through prayer, the sacraments, and perseverance
Timeless wisdom from St. Francis de Sales for enduring spiritual trial
Part IV · Chapter XII: Of Sadness and Sorrow
St. Paul teaches that there are two kinds of sorrow. One leads us to repentance and ultimately to salvation, while the other leads to spiritual death.
Whether sorrow is good or bad depends on what it produces in our hearts and lives.
In fact, sorrow is more likely to produce harmful effects than good ones. Its only truly good fruits are mercy and repentance. But it can also produce six harmful attitudes: anguish, spiritual laziness, resentful anger, jealousy, envy, and impatience.
Scripture says, "Sorrow has destroyed many people, and it brings no benefit." This is because, although sadness can produce two good results—mercy and repentance—it more often gives rise to these six destructive ones.
The devil uses sadness as a weapon against good people. Just as he makes sinful people enjoy their sin, he tries to make faithful people miserable while they are doing good. He makes sin seem attractive to lure people toward it, and he makes holiness seem burdensome and joyless in order to drive people away from it.
The devil delights in sadness and melancholy because they reflect his own condition.
He will remain in sorrow forever, and he wants everyone else to share in that same misery.
Worldly sorrow unsettles the heart. It fills us with anxiety and irrational fears.
It makes us lose our desire to pray. Prayer begins to feel dry, difficult, or even pointless.
It overwhelms the mind and clouds our judgment. We struggle to think clearly or make wise decisions.
It robs the soul of wisdom, determination, and courage, weakening every spiritual strength we have.
It is like a bitter winter that strips the beauty from the earth and leaves everything cold, barren, and lifeless.
In the same way, worldly sorrow robs the soul of its joy, peace, and strength, affecting every part of our spiritual life.
How to Overcome Discouragement
If you ever find yourself attacked by this unhealthy sadness, use the following remedies.
As St. James says, "Is anyone suffering? Let him pray."
Prayer is one of the greatest remedies because it lifts the mind and heart to God, who alone is our true joy and lasting consolation.
When you pray, let both your thoughts and your words be filled with love for God and trust in Him.
Pray with affectionate confidence, saying things such as:
"O God of mercy, my loving Lord, my gentle Savior, Lord of my heart, my joy, my hope, my beloved, my Bridegroom."
Fight against every tendency toward discouragement with determination. Even if everything you do feels dry, tiring, and without emotion, do not give up.
The devil tries to use discouragement to make us lose our enthusiasm for doing what is good.
But when he sees that we continue doing good anyway—and that our determination actually becomes stronger because we are resisting him—he often gives up and stops troubling us.
Use hymns and sacred songs. Throughout history they have often frustrated the devil's work, just as the evil spirit tormenting King Saul was driven away by David's music and psalms.
It is also helpful to stay busy with worthwhile work. Vary your activities so your mind is not constantly dwelling on what is weighing you down. Healthy work and wholesome activity refresh the spirit because discouragement often leaves us emotionally and spiritually cold.
Practice outward expressions of your faith even when you do not feel anything. Hold your crucifix close to your heart. Kiss the hands and feet of Christ. Let your body participate in prayer even when your emotions are absent.
Lift your eyes—and even your hands—toward heaven, and speak short, loving prayers of trust to God.
Pray often with simple words like:
"My Beloved is mine, and I am His."
"My Beloved rests close to my heart."
"My eyes long for Your word."
"Lord, when will You comfort me?"
"O Jesus, be my Savior, and let my soul live."
"Who shall separate me from the love of Christ?"
Practice moderate self-discipline, such as fasting or other reasonable bodily sacrifices. These help fight discouragement because they draw the mind away from constantly focusing on itself.
Receive Holy Communion as often as you are able. The Bread of Life strengthens the heart and fills the soul with renewed joy and courage.
Be completely honest with your confessor or spiritual director. Humbly reveal every thought, feeling, and desire that arises from your discouragement. Hide nothing.
Seek the company of faithful, spiritually minded people. Spend as much time with them as you can while you are enduring this trial.
Finally, place yourself completely into God's hands. Accept this difficult trial with patience, trusting that God is using it to purify and strengthen you.
Above all, never lose hope. Never doubt that after God has accomplished His purpose through this trial, He will deliver you from it.
Chapter Summary
There are two kinds of sorrow. Godly sorrow leads us to repentance, mercy, and salvation. Worldly sorrow leads to anxiety, fear, discouragement, spiritual weakness, and distance from God.
When discouragement comes, do not surrender to it. Turn immediately to prayer. Fill your heart with love and trust in God. Continue doing good even when you do not feel like it. Sing sacred hymns. Keep yourself occupied with wholesome work. Practice outward acts of devotion. Pray short prayers of confidence throughout the day. Exercise reasonable self-discipline. Receive the Eucharist frequently. Open your heart to a trusted confessor or spiritual director. Stay close to faithful friends. Above all, entrust yourself to God's loving providence and persevere with hope, knowing that He will not allow the trial to last forever.
Disclaimer: This post contains a modern-English interpretation of Introduction to the Devout Life (1609) by St. Francis de Sales. It is intended as a study aid to help make his timeless spiritual teachings more accessible to modern readers. While it follows the structure, meaning, and flow of the original work, it is not a direct or literal translation. The original 1609 edition is in the public domain.
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