Discouragement: December 16, 2011

DISCOURAGEMENT

DEFINITION:

Cause to lose spirit or hope; dishearten; dismay.

SCRIPTURE:

O Lord, how long shall I cry, and You will not hear? Even cry out to You, “VIOLENCE!” and You will not save. Habakkuk 1:2

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

Habakkuk in the verse above expresses his heart just like many believers do today. He was frustrated and baffled as to why God had not corrected the corruption in Judah? God was working but Habakkuk could not see it because it was not the time for Him to answer Habakkuk’s prayers. Habakkuk was discouraged and could not understand why God was delaying.

It is difficult for believers today, as well, to see the injustice and evil that abounds in our world and not be discouraged and wonder if God is paying attention.

Do you feel stuck in discouragement? If so, you are not alone. At some point everyone experiences a disappointment which is an emotional response to a failed expectation. Disappointment is the normal initial reaction to a failed expectation but if you allow it to linger it will turn into discouragement.

The circumstances that bring on disappointment may be unavoidable but we have a choice how we can respond. We can either let it overwhelm us or bring it before the Lord who can help us through it.

Living in constant discouragement can divide the mind, making it hard to focus on anything but our pain. Then anger comes and we look for someone to blame, whether it be God, people around us, or ourself.

Frustration that isn’t handled well may develop into depression, which will turn others away from us. This leads to a low esteem and then we make poor decisions. Choosing this self-destructive path is not God’s best for our lives. Instead of sulking in self-pity, choose to believe God, step out in faith, and climb out of your emotional pit.

Nehemiah is a great example. (Nehemiah 2:1-8) He had every reason to feel defeated, because his people were in trouble. The city wall had been destroyed but he did not allow himself to stay in the low place of discouragement. Instead he cried out to God for direction. Even though Nehemiah knew that sadness in the presence of royalty was punishable by death, the Lord went ahead of Nehemiah and led the king to notice his servant’s sadness and asked what he could do to help.

This miracle led to the rebuilding of the wall and the redemption of God’s people. The Lord can take an impossible situation, just like He did for Nehemiah when He moved the king to talk to Nehemiah, and move in ways mightier than we could ever imagine. Even though we cannot see how God is working we do not need to be discouraged. God is doing His work even when we do not understand why He works as He does.

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in Proverbs 20:11.

Even a child is known by his deeds, whether what he does is pure and right.

PRAYER:

Help me dear Lord, to face the disappointments that I may face today by trusting in You. Help me to remember that there is a divine purpose for everything He allows to touch His children’s lives. Help me to live today with an eager anticipation of what You will do through me.