What to do when discouragement hits! Psalm 42:5, Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him for the help of His presence.
When do you sense discouragement in your life? Sometimes it comes after you’ve just had a great spiritual experience... a victory in a certain area... when you are being criticized or corrected.... when you’re sick... when a good friend moves... or during a stressful/trying time of life. God addresses discouragement in the Bible, so we know that it’s something people do struggle with. Let’s see what He says about it, and what to do when you sense it in your life!
1 Kings 18-19, the story of Elijah (he had just experienced God’s incredible power in his life: raising the widow’s son, confronting King Ahab, seeing God defeat the prophets of Baal, and then seeing God answer his prayer for rain after years of drought). But he got scared due to the threats of Queen Jezebel and ran for his life! He then asked God to take away his life! He was so afraid and so depressed that he wanted to die! He lost sight of all the other prophets (7,000!) God had in the land and thought he was the only one left (listened to Satan’s lies). He gave up on God’s call for his life. What was he focused on? -SELF. ME. Focusing on self can often lead to depression. (note that depression is when you actually want to die; whereas discouragement is when you are emotionally spent) What did God do? He let him sleep - let Elijah rest (Come to Me, says Jesus, and I will give you rest!). He sent an angel to feed him... then He let him rest again.... and then he appeared to Elijah with a still, small voice, telling him what to do next (He was preparing to bless him with the assistance of Elisha).
Proverbs 15:13, A glad heart makes a cheerful countenance, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is broken. Think about Pollyanna and “the glad game” that she played. :) It’s true that sadness leaves when you force yourself to have a grateful spirit! 1 Thessalonians 5:18a, In everything give thanks.... Thank [God] in everything [no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks], for this is the will of God for you [who are] in Christ Jesus. So gratefulness is important when dealing with discouragement... it takes your eyes off of self, and points you to Jesus. Consider making a list of all the blessings relating to what you might be facing... start by thanking God that His grace is sufficient! This even is a part of “renewing your mind” - changing your way of thinking by meditating on Scripture, praying to God, and expressing thanks to Him (index card idea).
The Psalms are full of David’s heart cries to God. He was often facing death, ran countless times for his life, was attacked and betrayed by his closest friends, etc. If anyone had good reason for being depressed, David did. What did he do? Psalm 42 is a picture of David telling his soul to trust God... to keep on hoping... he knew he would praise Him yet again. Psalm 73:26 reminds us that, My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever! ”Remember it is the very time for faith to work when sight ceases” - George Muller. Don’t use up all of your emotional energy rehearsing to yourself how terrible your life is! Importance of “preaching” to oneself, to remind yourself of how God has delivered in the past; praise Him that He will bring you out of this darkness again! Hebrews 12:3-4, Just think of Him Who endured from sinners such grievous opposition and bitter hostility against Himself [reckon up and consider it all in comparison with your trials], so that you may not grow weary or exhausted, losing heart and relaxing and fainting in your minds. You have not yet struggled and fought agonizingly against sin, nor have you yet resisted and withstood to the point of pouring out your [own] blood.
Think of Jesus. Consider Him. Greater is HE who IS IN YOU! Psalm 112:4, Even in darkness light dawns for the upright! Satan is called the “accuser” in Revelation 12:10. That’s what he delights in doing: accusing us, condemning us. Remember that when you sense conviction about something, Jesus offers restoration with that conviction. Satan only presents you with defeat and despair. Micah 7:8, Rejoice not over me, O my enemy; when I fall, I shall rise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD will be a light to me. Sometimes you just need to speak the Word of God aloud... telling the discouragement to flee! (believe and speak... power in the spoken Word which is our sword, our offensive weapon... 2 Cor. 4:13). Ephesians 6:12, For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Galatians 6:7-10 to become weary doing good means to give in to trouble, to become exasperated by difficulty, be defeated in spirit, discouraged or faint-hearted, to despair, lose heart (Lexical Aids). The Complete Word Study Dictionary says... to turn out to be a coward, to lose one’s courage. So don’t become defeated! don’t lose heart! God’s promise to you is a harvest of good! Cure for depression - Isaiah 58:6-11, go out and minister! Self-absorption + boredom = a TOXIC BLEND.
Life is worth living because *Jesus lives*! (song ~ Because He lives I can face tomorrow; Because He lives all fear is gone; Because I know He holds the future, And life is worth the living just because He lives.)
Good things to remember: get good rest/sleep, spend time with Jesus and in the Word, memorize specific Scriptures (claim the promises), pray - cry out to the Lord for help and mercy, ask for your parent (s) to verbally bless you, rebuke the enemy, replace toxic thoughts and enemy-lies with truths from God’s Word, make a list of gratefulness and write notes of gratefulness, keep going! Serve, be occupied with something for the Lord (don’t cut yourself off from others - from encouragement). Don't forget to EXERCISE! A little bit of exercise every day will do wonders in lifting your spirits.
Jesus is always with you. He remains the same - yesterday, today, forever.
read “Jesus Calling” - November 8 & 9
Jesus is all the world to me, my life, my joy, my all;
He is my strength from day to day, without Him I would fall.
When I am sad, to Him I go, no other one can cheer me so;
When I am sad, He makes me glad, He’s my Friend.
Jesus is all the world to me, my Friend in trials sore;
I go to Him for blessings, and He gives them over and o’er.
He sends the sunshine and the rain, He sends the harvest’s golden grain;
Sunshine and rain, harvest of grain, He’s my Friend.
Jesus is all the world to me, and true to Him I’ll be;
O how could I this Friend deny, when He’s so true to me?
Following Him I know I’m right, He watches o’er me day and night;
Following Him by day and night, He’s my Friend.
Jesus is all the world to me, I want no better Friend;
I trust Him now, I’ll trust Him when life’s fleeting days shall end.
Beautiful life with such a Friend, beautiful life that has no end;
Eternal life, eternal joy, He’s my Friend.
~Will L. Thompson, 1904
Nehemiah 8:10, Philippians 4:8, Romans 8:28, Psalm 3:3, Lamentations 3:22-24, Romans 15:13, Isaiah 40:31, Romans 8:31
