Defeating Discouragement Introduction

(1) My Battle With Discouragement

2009-08-30T19:04:00.000-07:00

I have always been a particularly positive guy. Always enjoyed life. Love to laugh and play. Until . . .

I remember it so clearly. Laying in my bed awake when everyone else was well into dream land. Staring at the ceiling, praying to God that He would take my life and bring me home to be with Him. Depressed? No, I don’t think so, just deeply discouraged. Feeling hopeless. Feeling like the struggles would never end. Struggles with my own fallen nature getting the better of me at times. Struggles with conflict with others and opposition in ministry. Struggles with trying to encourage everyone else to have a positive outlook and trust God while not feeling like I had anyone to keep me encouraged. I just felt spent. I felt like I had nothing else to give. I felt like the world, my family, and my church would be better off without me. But I didn’t give up. I determined that as long as God kept my lungs sucking air and my heart pumping blood I would keep going, trying to be faithful to Him.

This wasn’t a one time event. It actually occurred a few times. Other times, I came short of asking God to take my life but I did beg Him to change things in my life. There have been a number of times as I went through those few years of growth when I felt like quitting. I felt like there was no hope of relief, no hope of change. Oh, I kept going through the motions, putting my best foot forward, really trying to do the right thing, but my heart wasn’t always in it.

God taught me a lot during those years. He taught me about trusting Him. He brought me face to face with my wrong thinking, attitudes and values. He lead me to a greater understanding of principles in His Word and the glories of His character. He taught me about defeating discouragement.

Discouragement. It’s a fact of life. We all experience it. Sometimes we can see it coming, but most of the time it comes upon us unexpectedly. Some of us are less prone to discouragement and infrequently become discouraged. On the other hand, some of us are more prone to discouragement and are frequently discouraged.

Discouragement grows from a variety of sources and challenges in life. It can come and go quickly with little impact on us, or, discouragement can be prolonged and quite dangerous. It has the potential for consuming us, and can even grow into life dominating depression. It must be defeated or it will defeat us.

Now, some people try to defeat discouragement by simply trying to think happy thoughts or speaking positive mantras in hopes that these thoughts and words will produce reality. Or, we may just resort to denial and seek to ignore the problem in hopes it will get better. Others may pursue substitution to compensate for their foreboding thoughts. Hey, let’s go shopping, go to a movie, get a pizza, that will make me feel better. But these solutions are about as helpful as an aspirin for healing a broken leg. The only way we will truly get victory over discouragement is to combat it with truth. So, we must turn to God’s Word

Next: Discouragement in the Bible

(2) Discouragement in the Bible

2009-08-30T19:03:00.000-07:00

You might be surprised to know that God talks quite a bit about discouragement. In the Old Testament, we come across the Hebrew word, chathath. This word means “to be dismayed, disheartened or discouraged.” It is linked to a sense of hopelessness. Joshua uses this word to encourage the people of Israel. They had been feeling intimidated and overwhelmed by their enemies and God delivered them. Joshua focused their attention on the miraculous victory God granted and said, “Don't ever be afraid or discouraged [chathath], be strong and courageous, for the LORD is going to do this to all of your enemies (Joshua 10:25 NLT).”

In the New Testament the Greek word egkakeo means, “to lose courage, become faint of heart.” Jesus recognized the probablility of his disciples becoming discouraged and so, “He told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart [egkakeo] (Luke 18:1 ESV). He went on to tell them by way of parable that God is not like human friends and judges. He is compassionate, gracious, and eager to care for His people, not begrudging, cold, and slow to help like man.

From these words found in scripture, we see that discouragement is the absence of courage, hope, and confidence. It is a loss of confidence, enthusiasm, and motivation to keep going.

Here’s a simple fact of life: Discouragement will come upon all of us from time to time. We’ll all face it, the question is how we deal with it. When we understand discouragement form a biblical perspective, and deal with it based on biblical principles, the frequency and severity of discouragement will be greatly decreased.

And even as we get our feet wet in the waters of biblical encouragement, we already feel the encouragement of God. Whatever we face, whatever challenge, God is for us, to accomplish what is best for us. He is leading the charge in the battle for our good and His glory. And, “If God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:32). God is working, always working in your life, for your good. And He is never going to tell you it’s a bad time to ask for help! He is more eager to show us His plan than we are to know it, and more eager to provide His strength than we are to have it.

(3) The Sources of Our Discouragement

2009-08-30T19:02:00.000-07:00

So, what leads to our bouts with discouragement? Too many sources to mention! And, it’s different for everyone. There’s not cookie cutter discouragement. But, while you and I will certainly face very different specific circumstances in life, there are some general things that everyone has in common when it comes to discouragement. Let’s briefly look at these general sources of discouragement together.

I can become discouraged by any number of outside forces, but I actually don’t need to look outside my own skin to get discouraged. I have enough problems with my own fallen nature to get me discouraged. And, I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one with this problem. All of us, from time to time are going to become discouraged with OURSELVES.

We all have to deal with our own failures and sins. And this can lead to discouragement. Hey, even the great spiritual giant, the Apostle Paul dealt with this discouragement.

Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? (Romans 7:24 NLT)

But even when we rest in God’s grace and forgiveness for our failures and sins, we can still have to deal with discouragement with OTHERS. People are going to let us down. Sometimes they will be downright unkind, even hateful and abusive.

Listen to me, you who know what is right, you people who are aware of my law! Don't be afraid of the insults of men; don't be discouraged because of their abuse! (Isaiah 51:7 NET)

Another reason we can become discouraged is because of outright OPPOSITION. People criticize, condemn and complain and sometimes will do everything they can to bring us down.

But although we suffered earlier and were mistreated in Philippi, as you know, we had the courage in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in spite of much opposition. (1Thessalonians 2:2 NET)

So then I ask you not to be discouraged over my afflictions on your behalf, for they are your glory. (Ephesians 3:13 CSB)

There’s one final reason for the discouragement we face in life, OBSTACLES. It can be a matter of time, money or other resource that is lacking. It can be information we can’t get or a problem we can’t solve. It could be some government regulations or employer’s policies. Or, any number of other obstacles.

Nehemiah faced some serious obstacles in his life. First, Jerusalem was in ruins, and second, he was in exile under the authority of a pagan king,. He wanted to see Jerusalem restored, but faced seemingly insurmountable obstacles.

So the king asked me, "Why are you looking so sad? You don't look sick to me. You must be deeply troubled." Then I was terrified, 3but I replied, "Long live the king! How can I not be sad? For the city where my ancestors are buried is in ruins, and the gates have been destroyed by fire." (Nehemiah 2:2-3 NLT)

No wonder we get discouraged at times! When it can come at us from within ourselves, from all sides through others, opposition, and obstacles, it’s no wonder we can struggle with walking in victory over discouragement.

As we move forward in our study of biblical principles for defeating discouragement, we will discover help to win over this discouragement. We will discover hope and encouragement. Stick with me and let’s discover victory together.

Next: The Surface Causes of Discouragement

(4) The Causes of Discouragement

2009-08-30T19:01:00.000-07:00

There may seem to be a variety of sources from which discouragement may arise. But, when it comes to the causes of our discouragement, there are really just a few. Some are surface causes that we quickly recognize. Then there are root causes that we need to more diligently ferret out. But, there is good news, we are in control of each one because they all come from within us.

One common surface cause of discouragement is FATIGUE. This may be physical fatigue due to a busy schedule or physical illness. Or, it may be spiritual fatigue due to a lack of personal worship and fellowship with God and time in His Word.

A second surface cause of discouragement is FEAR. Fear may arise because of real or imagined dangers or negative circumstances – worry & discouragement are often found together. It can also come from a fear of criticism (What will they think?); the fear of responsibility (What if I can't handle this?); and the fear of failure (What if I blow it?). Any of these can cause a major onset of the blues.

The third surface cause through which we can become discouraged is actual FAILURE. Failure can come because of circumstances beyond our control, lack of ability or sometimes lack of follow-through. But the reason for the failure does not determine the amount of discouragement we may experience. Especially when the failure is public or effects others negatively.

And the fourth and last surface cause of discouragement is FRUSTRATION. We can become frustrated with many things in life. A lack of progress toward some goal, things breaking, unexpected expenses and the list goes on and on. Then, we can become frustrated with people because we lack a heart of patience and forbearance.

But these are only the surface causes that present themselves. There are actually three root causes we need to carefully consider if we are going to get victory over discouragement. We will look at each of these in depth, but for now, I will list them with some scripture for your initial consideration.

1. Lack of FEAR

We become discouraged and stay discouraged because we do not have a healthy reverence for God and His glory being displayed in our lives.

Proverbs 14:26 (NET)
In the fear of the LORD one has strong confidence . . .

2. Lack of FAITH

A great deal of discouragement will be defeated simply by trusting God and believing His Word.

Deuteronomy 31:8 (NIV)
The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."

Isaiah 41:10 (NLT)
Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.

Isaiah 40:29-31 (ESV)
He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. 30Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; 31but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

3. Loss of FOCUS

We often become discouraged because we have a short-sighted, human view of our life circumstances.

Galatians 6:9 (NAU)
Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.

Hebrews 12:3 (NAU)
For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Next: (5) Defeating Discouragement With Fear