Overcoming the voice of discouragement
1Kings 19:18 Yet I will preserve seven thousand others in Israel who have never bowed to Baal or kissed him!" NLT
1Sam 30:6 Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.
Discouragement is one of the deadliest things in the life of a child of God. I define discouragement as a state of emotional exhaustion where a person’s best efforts towards a desired goal did not materialize, leading to giving up in their search. This happens when all your available resources failed to deliver your most cherished desires. When such a moment comes, your mind fails to grasp why such goals were not reached, in spite of your best efforts. Most of us do not prepare ourselves for such moments, and when they come, we break.
Such times can lead to prolonged moments of emotional isolation and loneliness, and it is during such times that people are tempted to find shortcuts to end their misery. Some people can go to extremes during such moments. Some can entertain thoughts of giving up the faith, alcohol, drugs, violence and even suicide. Elijah, even though he was a man of God, faced such moments in his life. This happened immediately after one of his most successful periods in his ministry. He had just destroyed the altars of Baal, and killed 450 prophets of Baal. Young men, discouragement can come at that moment just after getting that big promotion at work, and the lady who had promised you marriage decides to withdraw from the relationship. Young ladies, this can occur after that day of graduating at university, and it takes you another 3 years to find a job, with all your qualifications. Our best achievements will not immunize us from moments of discouragement.
Allow me to tell you that no amount devotion to God will shield you from the temptation to be discouraged. Satan’s aim is to take your eyes off your goal, because he knows that if he does so, half of his battle for your soul shall have been won. The powers of darkness are competing for your thought life. If you hold too many meetings with yourself, without God, you are bound to find yourself in the side of discouragement.
The trials and temptations of life are intended to give us that inward training which shall bring our spiritual muscles into play. In each of us there is much unused force; many moral and spiritual faculties, which would never be used, if it were not for the wrestling which we are compelled to take up with principalities and powers, with difficulty and sorrow. In many instances in the bible, we are encouraged us take heed to ourselves, and to live in the atmosphere of uplifting thought and of self-denying ministry.
How discouragement comes
It comes through isolation. The voice of discouragement is more audible when we are alone. Even some of your closest friends can leave you when you needed them the most.
How to overcome discouragement
Face the problem
It is not what happens to you, but what happens in you that will count at the end of the day. We have no control over what happens to us, but we have control over how we respond. The enemy has control over what he brings to you, but has no control over how you will respond. After Jesus had fasted for 40 days and 40 nights, he faced his season of discouragement. Remember that this took place after one of the most dramatic events in the history of mankind. He had just been baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit at Jordan, and this moment of temptation came.
But he faced the problem. He did not pray for a miracle. The devil was questioning the ability of God to perform a miracle during a time of need. During such moments, God will not rescue you miraculously from your situation; he will only provide grace to carry you through.
Problems help us to see our frailties. Our deficiencies are God’s entry point into our lives. A believer with no shortcomings does not need God in their lives. If you study the bible, you will discover that there was no man without shortcomings, except Jesus.
Learn to speak the Word to yourself.
Jesus spoke the Word during his moment of trial. Job spoke the Word when things were tough. The word creates hope in the midst of adversity. Every situation that we face came as a result of words that were spoken. But the Word of God must be the final one.
Learn to memorize scriptures that match your situation. When Zerubbabel was faced with a situation, these are the words that came to him. “Zech 4:7 'Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone With shouts of "Grace, grace to it!"
If you worry, you didn't pray. If you pray, don't worry.
Know that there is the second chance.
Know that God is not over with you yet. A missed opportunity is an opportunity for a better one. If I fail an interview for a R10 000 job, it might mean that God was reserving a R20 000 job for me. God will never run out of blessings; it is we who run out of patience. The bible says in Heb 10:35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward. 36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye may receive the promise. WEBSTER
See the bigger picture.
The bible says in Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good, to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Seeing the bigger picture helps. We make decisions, based on what we see or hour. You cannot predict the end by the present. At the end of the day, God wants you to succeed. God wants to see you blessed. He wants to see you victorious. The bible also says in Luke 12:32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. KJV
The Message bible says “Don't be afraid of missing out. You're my dearest friends! The Father wants to give you the very kingdom itself.” We are kingdom people and God wants us to be kingdom minded, because God can only bless you according to your mindset.