Discouragement

Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. James 4:10

Have you ever been discouraged? Discouraged? Are you asking me if I have ever been discouraged? Do you have a hundred years to listen?

Discouragement can happen to anyone at any time. Sometimes it does not take much for us to become discouraged. It could range from not being recognized at work or church to something as small as stubbing our toe to something as large as a sickness in our family or the loss of a lifelong friendship.

Discouragement will surely draw us away from God, if we let it. Discouragement is not new. The Israelites were constantly discouraged, most of the time it was of their own doing. As the Israelites traveled through the wilderness they had to fight discouragement.

What discouraged the Israelites?

The journey
And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way. Numbers 21:4

The surroundings
For when they went up unto the valley of Eshcol, and saw the land, they discouraged the heart of the children of Israel, that they should not go into the land which the LORD had given them. Numbers 32:9

Others
Whither shall we go up? our brethren have discouraged our heart, saying, The people is greater and taller than we; the cities are great and walled up to heaven; and moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakims there. Deuteronomy 1:28

When you read why the Israelites were discouraged you realize times have not really changed. We are facing the same kind of discouragements today. The situation may be different, the characters are different, the place is different, but the discouragements are the same.

Sometimes we need to step back and reevaluate the situation. Realize why you are doing things. Are you pleasing God or man? We need to keep our perspective right. We tend to get discouraged when we take our eyes off God.

Steps to conquer discouragement:

· Get close to God
Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. James 4:8

· Renew your efforts to live a God focused life
For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. Galatians 1:10

Our manta must be “It is not about me but about Him”. Everything we do should be Christ centered.

· Encourage yourself in God
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. I Samuel 30:6

· Meditate on positive thoughts
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Philippians 4:8

John Gill’s commentary: think on these things: meditate upon them, revolve them in your minds, seriously consider them, and reason with yourselves about them, in order to put them into practice.

The Christian life is not a constant high. I have my moments of deep discouragement. I have to go to God in prayer with tears in my eyes, and say, 'O God, forgive me,' or 'Help me.'

~ Billy Graham

Have a blessed day,
Donna