● Baruch groaned: “Woe, now, to me, for Jehovah has added grief to my pain! I have grown weary because of my sighing, and no resting-place have I found.”​—Jeremiah 45:3.

Baruch, the secretary of Jeremiah the prophet, sighed because of the emotional stress of his assignment. However, Jehovah kindly focused Baruch’s attention on reality. “‘As for you, you keep seeking great things for yourself. Do not keep on seeking. For here I am bringing in a calamity upon all flesh,’ is the utterance of Jehovah, ‘and I will give you your soul as a spoil in all the places to which you may go.’”​—Jeremiah 45:2-5.

With forthright language Jehovah explained that Baruch’s own selfish pursuits were the source of his frustration. Baruch could not find joy in his God-given assignment while at the same time seeking great things for himself. You too may find that a really positive step toward overcoming discouragement is to avoid distractions and embrace the peace of mind that comes from godly contentment.​—Philippians 4:6, 7.