“I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.” – Psalms 34:4
Recommended Reading:
Psalms 34:4
One of the most destabilizing forces we all face is discouragement. Most have started out with much fire and hope of accomplishing great goals for Christ. Those that are just saved are excited and fired up about doing something for God; however, they are often stopped from doing what they planned. The goal or dream they wanted to obtain required more effort to achieve than they had expected, or perhaps someone’s “help” discouraged them from even trying. Maybe an unkind word or even another’s disapproving look took the air out of their sails, and they drifted off course, never to accomplish what they had set out to do.
Encouragement may be needed more often when one is younger. One that has just been saved may require more encouragement, than one that has been saved for a while. However, one should never use a lack of encouragement or support as an excuse not to do what is right.
No matter how old you are, everyone gets discouraged from time to time. What do we do when we are slowed or halted, because of overwhelming discouragement? Too many get discouraged and go no further until they are encouraged. This is never a solution to the problem. You will find, however, that God has provided wisdom for Christians to deal with discouragement.
You must learn to get your mind off yourself, and put God first in your life (Galatians 2:20, Gal. 5:24-25, II Corinthians 5:15, Romans 14:7). If we find ourselves discouraged, it is usually because our emphasis is not on Him, but on ourselves. If I am part of the problem, then I can be part of the solution.
Sitting around discouraged will never help anyone! The only way out of a discouraging mindset is to change something. Instead of waiting to be “fixed,” be a fixer! Break the sad cycle of discouragement and be an encourager.
Don’t allow the devil to devastate your life with discouragement. We need you, you need us, and we all need God. Let’s be like David and encourage ourselves in the Lord. How do we do that? By remembering all the time’s God has brought you through past battles, trials, and storms. If He brought you through then, He will surely bring you through now! Be encouraged today, God is still in control!