Exodus 6:9, “Moses reported this to the Israelites, but they did not listen to him because of their discouragement and harsh labor.”
Have you ever felt like giving up on God? Maybe you weren’t going to become an atheist but you were tempted to stop praying and having faith for things to change in your life? If we were to be honest, all of us have felt discouraged at one time or another since becoming a Christian.
For some discouragement can come after the loss a loved one or when facing finance troubles. Sometimes ministers feel like giving up when they or the church hits hard times. Others have allowed themselves to be discouraged because they find themselves on the “merry-go-round” of sin and no matter what they do they can’t seem to control their inner desires. Therefore, it doesn’t really matter “why” the discouragement comes, what really matters is “how” to overcome feelings of discouragement.
First, recognize that facing discouragement doesn’t mean you’re bad or abnormal. Discouragement can come to anyone at anytime. Even the great prophet Elijah felt like giving up despite having seen God’s miraculous delivering power on Mount Carmel, 1 Kings 19:4! Discouragement is defined as, “the loss of hope and confidence.” Specifically, we as disciples can become discouraged when don’t have hope in God’s promises like we used to.
Second, we must not let our “feelings” control our “faith.” You have to decide that regardless of how you feel- you are going to believe and confess God’s Word over your life. Many times people of faith have had to overcome their feelings of discouragement (King David, Paul, etc..). Just because you think or feel discouraged doesn’t mean you have to live discouraged. If Daniel could overcame discouragement in the lion’s den- you can overcome whatever is discouraging you if keep your faith, Philippians 4:13!
Lastly, don’t let your present circumstances dictate your God given identity. Just because you might have lost a loved one doesn’t mean you’re alone- God is with you. You’re not a loser because you don’t have a job- you are a blessed and highly favored child of God waiting on the Lord to open a new door of employment. And you’re not a damned sinner because you battle sin, you are a Holy Ghost sanctified saint of God learning to live free from your past, 1 Corinthians 6:11. Therefore, make a decision to believe who God says you are- not your situation, Ephesians 1:3!
Do you struggle with discouragement? If so, pray this out loud, “Father, forgive me for losing my hope and confidence in you. Help me to believe I am who you said I am and I can do what you said I can do! Amen.”
Reflection
Are you discouraged?
Action
- Repent if you have allowed discouragement to take away your trust in God’s plan for your life.
- When facing discouragement find verses in the Bible that give you faith and pray them over your life, Romans 10:17.
- Praise God for who He is, all that He has already done, and has promised to do, Psalm 149!
