Discouragement is a human feeling that everyone has had one time or another. It can make you feel defeated or hopeless and it can even keep you from doing what you need to do. Can you relate to having discouragement? Maybe you have it because of infertility, singleness, prolonged illness, or financial difficulties. What ever the reason is behind your discouragement you have to realize that you are losing sight of God’s ways and you are not putting confidence in God’s provision.
God can take the person who is discouraged and deliver them but only if they confirm their need for God. Let’s take a look at some bible characters that experienced discouragement, some bible verses that will help you with being discouraged, and some ways that you can deal with discouragement as a Christian.
BIBLE CHARACTERS WHO WERE DISCOURAGED
Here you see some examples of discouragement in the bible.
Moses – He was discouraged because the Israelites were complaining about the food while they were in the wilderness. He saw every complaint as a personal attack against him. He forgot about God’s faithfulness and how he promised to provide for them. And God did provide for them as described in Numbers 11: 16-20.
Rachel – Jacob’s beloved wife could not conceive a child. Rachel’s discouragement at being barren led her to cry out to Jacob “Give me children or I will die!” (Genesis 30:1)
Job – No man lost as much as Job did. In one days time he lost all of his children, thousands of his life stock, his servants, and his health. Eliphaz, Job’s friend, said this, “Trouble comes to you, and you are discouraged; it strikes you, and you are dismayed.” (Job 4:5)
BIBLE VERSES FOR DISCOURAGEMENT
Here are some verses that will help you when you feel discouraged.
Jeremiah 29: 11 says, For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Joshua 1: 9 says, Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.
Deuteronomy 31: 8 says, 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.
John 16: 33 says, I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.
2 Corinthians 4: 16-18 says, Therefore do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are acheiving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Matthew 6: 33 says, But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
MY STORY
As I sit here writing this I can’t help but think of how discouraged I was a week ago. Back in September of 2020 God led me to start this blog. Here we are in May of 2023 and there is not a lot of traffic to my site. You would think by now that I would have lots of followers or readers, but I don’t. I have prayed about it numerous times, wondering if I am doing something wrong or why no one wants to read my articles. It is hard to continue to do something when you don’t see the fruits of your labor. But God has reassured me that it is not time yet for my blog to be famous. To keep doing what I am doing. So now when I pray I ask for patience to wait on his timing.
The whole time I was looking at my circumstances and what my blog was showing me. When I needed to be looking at God and how big he is. How he can do immeasurably more than all I ask or think of (Ephesians 3: 20). During this time of waiting and discouragement God has been teaching me to rely on him, to trust him, and to trust the process. He will provide when the time is right. And that will be the perfect time.
3 THINGS TO DO WHEN YOU FEEL DISCOURAGED
You might be tempted to fill the void you have from the discouragement with your own desires and longings.. And the truth is you need to wait on the Lord to provide his answer when you are discouraged.
Focusing on what is not happening or what is happening around you will make you start to doubt God and his promises. You doubt that he is a good God and that he loves you. You even may think he has forgotten about you.
So the best thing that you can do when you feel discouraged is to….
Seek God – God alone is the only one who can satisfy your deepest desires. Not the things of this world. (Psalms 107: 9)
Trust his promises – God longs to comfort and encourage you. Just as he has encouraged me he can encourage you as well. (2 Corinthians 1: 4)
Trust God’s will for your life – He is the one who is in control, not you. Therefore you must say “Not my will Lord, but yours be done.” (Luke 22: 42)
CONCLUSION
I know it is hard to keep your head above the water when you feel discouraged. But the best advice I have for you is when you start to feel discouraged go straight to God and ask him for encouragement. I promise you he will answer you and encourage you. It will not be what you think but exactly what you will need.
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