DEALING WITH DISCOURAGEMENT (part #1)
Discouragement is universal. No one is exempt from the dark cloud it casts over our lives. Great men of God—David, Job, Jeremiah, and even Jesus—became discouraged.
Discouragement can take many forms and be caused by many things.
Family Matters. Possibly a marriage is not working out as the man and woman had hoped and dreamed that it would. Children may cause concern and constant anxiety to parents. There may be illness of loved ones, financial insecurity, etc.
Moral Failure. In the battle between the flesh and spirit, many times the flesh keeps winning. One may have, among other things, a weakness to alcohol, drugs, sex, dishonesty or laziness. When we lose a battle, we lose heart and often become discouraged.
Spiritual Matters. For example, there are wives who try to keep the lamp of faith burning in spite of the unbelief of a husband who has no interest in spiritual things. It could be that one becomes stagnant in his spiritual growth, and his zeal begins to wane—Christ may not mean as much as He did or as He should, prayer seems to get him nowhere, church attendance seems flat and worship assemblies are boring. Some get discouraged because their convictions for truth cause them to be at odds with relatives or friends. Some may become disappointed in preachers, elders or other influential Christians because of their hypocrisy, carnality or apostasy. Discouragement in spiritual matters may result from a lack of success in the church in converting the world and building up the local body.
As shocking as it may seem, faithfulness to God and His word do not guarantee that one will not become discouraged. As a matter of fact, the more one is involved in the work of the Lord, the greater, at times, his discouragement may be. Those who endeavor to teach God's truth or live faithfully as a Christian encounter many and varied discouragements. What faithful teacher and Christian has not asked himself at one time or another, "What's the use?" when his efforts to teach others and to set a proper example seem not only to accomplish nothing but also to be unappreciated. Discouragement also comes to preachers. The pulpit provides no insulation from it.
We must remember that others before us have had their disappointments and discouragements also. Jeremiah was met with almost unimaginable discouragements (Jer. 9:2). Yet, in spite of all his longings to leave, he stood at his post of duty through the weary years, faithful to God even to the last. Jesus and His apostles faced many discouragements. So must we.
Discouragement, though, is not sin within and of itself. While it may be defined as to deprive of courage or confidence, to hinder by disfavoring, to attempt to dissuade; it may also be defined as deep and sober concern because of real problems. The person who is never discouraged is of no real value. The real issues and grim realities of life are too deep to pretend that nothing is ever bad enough for heartache and tears.
Discouragement will come. We must know how to deal with it.
Onward Rejoicing, John B. Daniels, Associate Minister
