Discouraging Times, Encouraging WORDS

 

 

The opposition has seemed incredible lately. It appears that no matter which direction we look there is someone standing against the things we believe and love the most:

• Hatred toward God, Christians and Christianity is increasing
• Families being threatened with divorce or division
• An effort by the media (and our government) to excite another pandemic of fear (more Covid or monkey pox)
• The ever increasing disputes and divisions in our nation
• The fervent intent of many to keep killing the unborn acceptable

It is discouraging but, as Christians, we are not to be discouraged. In a recent sermon I heard, discouragement was defined using a quote from William Ward, “Discouragement is dissatisfaction with the past, distaste for the present, and distrust for the future. It is ingratitude for the blessings of yesterday, indifference to the opportunities of today, and insecurity regarding strength for tomorrow.”

Reading this carefully and applying it to our current circumstances is very convicting. Dissatisfaction, distaste, distrust, ingratitude, indifference, and insecurity. These are sins against a Holy God. It is His plan we are dissatisfied with. It is His judgments that we have distaste for, and His grace and abundance for which we are ungrateful. All of these make us indifferent to the opportunities and not sure we have the strength to stand firmly in our faith.

A discouraged person is not one living up to the expectations of our God. If discouraged, our families see it, our faith is not a “shining light” to our neighbors as we have been instructed to do, and we are not trusting that the Almighty God can change our thinking through His Word.

The discouraged person may also practice doubt. Things seem so far from what they should be that the discouraged person wonders if God can actually “fix” them.

First, trust has to be remembered. God is faithful and trustworthy. Hetells us that the wicked, those who do evil, He hates (Psalm 5:5, Psalm 11:5). They may prosper for a time (Jeremiah 5:28, 12:1) but the Lord will repay them for their evil deeds (Deuteronomy 32:41, Psalm 54:5, Isaiah 59:18).

In other places He promises that vengeance is His (Romans 12:19) and that He will be with us when we go through waters and fire (Isaiah 43:2).

Do we believe the promises of God? Do we return to His Word and read these promises when we are discouraged or full of doubts about our faith or our God? James tells us that if we pray but doubt that God will answer us, then we are double minded and unstable (James 1:6-8).

When we pray, are we asking God “can” He do something or “will” He do something? We do not always know what He will do but we can be sure that there is nothing that is too hard for Him to do (Jeremiah 32:17, 32:27).

If, as has seemed more likely lately, you and I are experiencing discouragement or doubt, will we acknowledge that these are things that can be overcome by an increase in our faith and knowledge (and understanding) of God’s Word? Will we repent of our unbelief and ask God to increase our faith?

God has given us His Word as a schoolmaster, a tutor and guide. These are tools to keep us in the faith and strong –  not doubtful or discouraged. If our Bibles are collecting dust, unopened, we will not overcome discouragement. The Word of God is living and active. We need it.

Consider the words of 1 John 5:4, For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.

The victory is ours with Christ. Be not discouraged.