Everyone will have their share of discouragement at some point in their lifetime. However, our approach to managing our discouragement will distinguish us from others.
The dictionary defines discouragement as follows;
“A feeling of despair in the face of obstacles; or a state of distraught and loss of sense of enthusiasm, drive or courage.”
Discouragement happens in all areas of life.
- An employee puts in his best to ensure his department achieves success, only to get a damaging response instead of a good appraisal from his superior.
- A woman’s marriage dreams end when her husband is unfaithful. She truly feels the pangs of discouragement.
- A couple suffers their second miscarriage while trying to create a family.
- A man’s hope, expectation and aspiration is dashed.
Discouragement – The Signs
The following are some signs of discouragement:
- Sleeplessness -- the mind and soul is full of worry.
- Restlessness -- Absent mindedness sets in and weariness results.
- Complacency -- Loss of interest in food even though you might not have eaten for hours.
- Negative Thoughts – The ultimate of this are thoughts of suicide.
Discouragement – The Solutions.
The question becomes: Why does discouragement plague so many people?
If you look through the Word of God, you will see that discouragement has been in existence from Genesis (the beginning of all things) and can be found in many people throughout the Scriptures.
The Devil has learned to attack the minds of people, making them discouraged and ultimately depressed.
It is his goal to entrap people and discourage them.
But, Jesus Christ came to deliver us from this onslaught of mind-attacks.
Jesus recognized the things that often lead to discouragement –
- coveting (a greedy desire to have more wealth),
- dangerous and destructive wickedness,
- deceit;
- unrestrained (indecent) conduct;
- an evil eye (envy),
- slander (evil speaking, malicious misrepresentation, abusiveness),
- pride (the sin of an uplifted heart against God and man),
- foolishness (folly, lack of sense, recklessness, thoughtlessness)
Jesus told us to keep our minds and hearts clean and to remove those negative influences from our minds. He desires that we have perfect peace.
Jesus does not promise us a perfect life on earth, but He does desire us to have a balance in life and He promises to carry us through the hard times.
We will pass through some situations and trials that want to incapacitate our joy.
And still we’ve been promised victory in this world over them!
Discouragement – Focus on these things
- Cry out to God and tell Him of your pain –
(See also: Psalm 51:1-18, Psalm 32:3-8)
- Give God your anxiety –
(See also Philippians 4:6-7, Proverbs 3:5-6, Matthew 6:33-34)
- Ask Him for peace –
(See also: Isaiah 26:3-4, Philippians 4:6-8).
What does the Bible say about finding encouragement from God?
There are many Bible verses for encouragement. Consider these:
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. - Deuteronomy 31:6
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. – Matthew 11:28-30
Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 3:13-14
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. – Philippians 4:6
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." – Revelation 21:3-4
But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. – John 16:7
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going." – John 14:1-4
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. – Galatians 6:9
Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. – Psalm 42:5-6a
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. - 1 Peter 1:3
FACING DISCOURAGEMENT- Examples
And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me , and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time. And when he saw that , he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there. But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers. 1 Kings 19:1-4
So David and his men came to the city, and, behold, it was burned with fire; and their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, were taken captives. Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep. And David's two wives were taken captives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite. And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God. 1 Samuel 30:3-6
But of that day and hour knoweth no man , no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. But as the days of Noe were , so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Matthew 24:36-39
RESPONSE
1. Close your mouth.
Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth. Proverbs 6:2
2. Seek no counsel from stranger.
And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite [is] better than the counsel of Ahithophel. For the LORD had appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that the LORD might bring evil upon Absalom. 2 Samuel 17:14
3. It is not a time to start new project.
To every [thing there is] a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for [there is] a time there for every purpose and for every work. Ecclesiastes 3:1, 17
Learn from the snail that only recoils into its shell when its meets obstacle and to come up again either to climb over or to eat it, if it be its food.
Inquire from God for the next line of action.
4. Tarry
And tarry with him a few days, until thy brother's fury turn away; Genesis 27:44
Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I may know what the LORD will say unto me more. Numbers 22:19
And they sat down, and did eat and drink both of them together: for the damsel's father had said unto the man, Be content, I pray thee, and tarry all night, and let thine heart be merry. Judges 19:6
And when the man rose up to depart, he, and his concubine, and his servant, his father in law, the damsel's father, said unto him, Behold, now the day draweth toward evening, I pray you tarry all night: behold, the day groweth to an end, lodge here, that thine heart may be merry; and to morrow get you early on your way, that thou mayest go home. Judges 19:9
And thou shalt go down before me to Gilgal; and, behold, I will come down unto thee, to offer burnt offerings, [and] to sacrifice sacrifices of peace offerings: seven days shalt thou tarry, till I come to thee, and shew thee what thou shalt do. 1Samuel 10:8
For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth. Psalms 37:9
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew [their] strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; [and] they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40:31
5. Encourage yourself in the Lord.
Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat! I would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments. I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me. Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me. Job 23:3-6
And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God. 1 Samuel 30:6
6. Retrace your steps back to the Lord
Then Job answered the LORD, and said, I know that thou canst do every thing , and that no thought can be withholden from thee. Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not. Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me. I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore I abhor myself , and repent in dust and ashes. And it was so , that after the LORD had spoken these words unto Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath . Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job. So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went, and did according as the LORD commanded them: the LORD also accepted Job. And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before. Job 42:1-10
