Enduring Discouragement

In our walk of faith, discouragement comes against us as we endeavor ahead. Scripture passages are from Berean Standard Bible available online https://biblehub.com/bsb. Images generated using NightCafe Studio and Canva Pro.

Sources of Discouragement

Two primary sources of our discouragement: unhealed wounds and evil.  I explore the dangers of self-pity and comparing ourselves to others. 

Moving Ahead through Self-Pity

When we allow jealousy, envy, or animosity to dwell in our lives we are primed for a season of dark discouragement! It’s important to examine our thought patterns for unhealthy tendencies. Unhealed wounds and resentment open pathways for our Adversary to distract and more easily harm us. 

The best defense against sin is to confess our sins to God, trusting in Him to forgive and restore us, and place ourselves in community with other believers! John reminds us to walk in the light! Discouragement is a form of spiritual darkness that can’t survive in the presence of Christ. The strongest weapons against darkness are confession and seeking God’s presence.

Canva Pro Stock Image: God’s light chases away the darkness when we worship and center ourselves upon Him and His Word.

1 John 1:5-10

Walking in the Light
(John 8:12–29)

5And this is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you: God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. 6If we say we have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

8If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10If we say we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar, and His word is not in us.

AI of two believers walking on the journey together.

Role of Accountability and Fellowship

Discouragement comes from a loss of perspective. When we face relentless pressure and it seems as though the concerns of our lives are crashing against us, we can become overwhelmed by the problems and anxiety. Jesus warns us about this in Luke 12:22-31

https://biblehub.com/bsb/luke/12.htm#22

and Luke 8:14

https://biblehub.com/bsb/luke/8.htm#9

How does accountability and fellowship assist us?

This past Wednesday, I was speaking with an elder in my local church. He asked me a question about ministry opportunities/serving. When he accurately sensed that I was discouraged; he reminded me of the many opportunities that I have had over the past weeks. This is the value of being in community and being accountable with others. He reminded me of the truth in my situation that I wasn’t recognizing due to being discouraged.  

Walking in community helps us to maintain the right perspective and focus. His reminder helped me to refocus on what God has done and to rest in the knowledge that God will use me again in the appropriate time. That’s why fellowship and community are important–that we receive and give encouragement to others! This happens in the context of relationships–knowing and being known by others. Are you allowing others to ask you questions? Are you open to receiving guidance, discernment, and perspective from others who desire for you to be faithful to God? Do you seek other believers to pray for and support you in your faith journey?

Our Adversary

Satan actively works against us too:

It’s also important to realize that, while God has amazing plans for each of us (Jeremiah 29:11), we also have an enemy in Satan who would love nothing more than to discourage us from trusting God to fulfill those plans for our lives.

The Bible describes Satan as one who “prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). The easiest way for a lion to bring down prey is to first isolate it from its herd.

It is much easier for Satan to discourage us when we are disconnected from the Body of Christ. Having godly people in our lives who know what we’re going through and can pray with and for us when things are tough is a huge encouragement (see Hebrews 10:24–25; James 5:16).

https://www.gotquestions.org/finding-a-job.html accessed 2/1/24–discussion on discouragement/enemy

Satan seeks to destroy our trust in God and His Promises. The best defense is to keep God’s Promises in mind to counter the lies. Paul reminds us:

God’s Word describes Satan as a “roaring lion.” 1 Peter 5:8. He is always stalking us and waiting to pounce on us when we are vulnerable.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5

3For though we live in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh. 4The weapons of our warfare are not the weapons of the world. Instead, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5We tear down arguments and every presumption set up against the knowledge of God; and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

Often our thoughts and emotions become distorted in discouragement. It’s a mental-warfare situation. Use God’s Word to filter and process the concerns. We know that God will never leave nor forsake us. We know that God’s grace is sufficient and that our sorrows are just temporary in light of eternal life through Christ.

Elijah’s Discouragement

Discouragement also comes from facing adversity, uncertainty, and doubt(s). Consider the account of Elijah and his deep discouragement in 1 Kings 19. Elijah is exhausted after God’s demonstration in chapter 18. Wicked Jezebel threatened Elijah and he flees to a cave wherein God comes to him. Let’s consider God’s message and Elijah’s complaints! My commentary will be in italics below the relevant verses.

Mt. Horeb is the mountain of God. This is where God gives His laws to Moses. The cave at Mt. Horeb is where God comes and speaks with Elijah. Consider that this location is significant. 

https://www.gotquestions.org/mount-Horeb.html

Elijah sits alone in the cave despondent, and weary from his struggles. AI created by me.

1 Kings 19:9-18

The LORD Speaks to Elijah at Horeb

9There Elijah entered a cave and spent the night. And the word of the LORD came to him, saying, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

God asks him an important question. God has shown His power in a mighty way using Elijah, but Elijah fears Jezebel’s threats. Do we let our fears and difficulties twist our view of God? Did God tell Elijah to go to the cave?

10“I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of Hosts,” he replied, “but the Israelites have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I am the only one left, and they are seeking my life as well.”

Is Elijah the only follower of God? Did the people not turn back to God and slay the evil priests that were leading them astray? 1 Kings 18:39-40

11Then the LORD said, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD. Behold, the LORD is about to pass by.”

Notice that God comes to Elijah. God doesn’t leave Elijah alone in his deep discouragement and burnout, loss of focus.

And a great and mighty wind tore into the mountains and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind.

After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake.

12After the earthquake there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire.

And after the fire came a still, small voice. 13When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

God asks him the same question. Note that God speaks with a still, small voice! God isn’t in the rock smashing winds, earthquake, and fire.

God speaks to His weary prophet. He still speaks to us through His Word, Holy Spirit, and through our fellow believers.

The Still, Small Voice of God

https://www.gotquestions.org/still-small-voice.html

14“I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of Hosts,” he replied, “but the Israelites have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I am the only one left, and they are seeking my life as well.”

Elijah repeats his complaint and God does something about it as you will see! Have you ever been so discouraged that your thoughts become like a record needle skipping on the same spot of a record?

15Then the LORD said to him, “Go back by the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you arrive, you are to anoint Hazael as king over Aram. 16You are also to anoint Jehu son of Nimshi as king over Israel and Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel-meholah to succeed you as prophet.

17Then Jehu will put to death whoever escapes the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death whoever escapes the sword of Jehu.

18Nevertheless, I have reserved seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.”

God gives Elijah specific instructions. First, God has Elijah anoint kings who will defeat the wicked Ahab. Second, God will also raise up Elisha to help and succeed Elijah. Third, God tells Elijah that He has a remnant of thousands who have remained faithful! God is victorious and He continues to work through Elijah. God isn’t done with Elijah. He isn’t done with you either!

God Knows our Ways

A song can help a person to recenter on God’s truths. This song reminds one that God will walk with us and that He knows our ways. Jon Bloom has a good article:

“The Devil Knows How to Discourage You”. He explains why we are discouraged:

But we are not always of good courage. Why? Because unbelief in the promises of God dis-courages us. This is the focus of all Satan’s massive, multifarious strategies: to dis-courage us through dis-belief in God’s promises.

His strategies are disorientingly sophisticated, but his goal is simple: to discourage Christians.

https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/the-devil-knows-how-to-discourage-you accessed 2/1/24

Stock image Canva Pro. The fog doesn’t last long once the sun comes up and begins to heat up the air.

Unbelief and doubt causes us to lose effectiveness and be vulnerable to being led astray into bitterness and disbelief. Jon reminds us that we need to give thanks to God and fight against discouragement:

Fight discouragement with thanksgiving. Fight hard! God will supply the strength you need (1 Peter 4:11; Philippians 4:19).

As you obey, you will begin to see and savor the grace you missed before.

Jon Bloom, Ibid.

May God’s grace and truth strengthen you as you press ahead in your journey of faith!