Let’s talk for a minute about discouragement.
Discouragement can come from a number of places, but I would
venture to say that most of the time it comes from unmet expectations whether from
self, others, God, or situations. Many of us deny discouragement, downplay it, and
re-label it as having a down day, being upset, feeling a little low or any
other number of cover-ups.
The fact is discouragement is real and it is the number one
killer of dreams, relationships, and biggest of all…HOPE. I would say
DISCOURAGEMENT is one of Satan’s most deadly threats when coming against people,
because it is everywhere and it will come upon you with surprise. We can even
misplace our discouragement and turn on God because He obviously let us down
yet again.
I would like to take this opportunity to refute the lies of
the Enemy. For all of you who feel broken by the world, misunderstood or that
you misunderstood, let down, and about to give up all hope, this blog is for
you.
From Isaiah 40:
9 O Zion,
messenger of good news,
shout from the mountaintops!
Shout it louder, O Jerusalem.
Shout, and do not be afraid.
Tell the towns of Judah,
“Your
God is coming!”
10 Yes, the Sovereign Lord is coming in power.
He
will rule with a powerful arm.
See, he brings his reward with him as he
comes.
11 He will feed his flock like a shepherd.
He will carry the lambs in his arms,
holding them close to his heart.
He will gently lead the mother sheep with
their young.
26 Look up into the
heavens.
Who created all the stars?
He brings them out like an army, one after another,
calling each by its name.
Because of his great power and incomparable strength,
not a single one is missing.
27 O Jacob, how can you say the Lord does not see
your troubles?
O Israel, how can you say God ignores your
rights? 28 Have you never heard?
Have you never understood?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of all the earth.
He never grows weak or
weary.
No one can measure the depths of his
understanding.
29 He gives power to the weak
and strength to the powerless. 30 Even youths will become
weak and tired,
and young men will fall in exhaustion.
31 But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.
They
will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
They will walk and not faint.
TRUTH FOR YOU:
*
YOU are the sheep God is holding close to His
heart
*
YOU are the one God is coming for
*
YOU are the one God is giving power and strength
*
YOU are the one who will soar
*
YOU are the one who will run without weariness
*
YOU are the one who will walk and not faint
*
YOU are the one God sees and knows. He knows
YOUR troubles and does not ignore YOUR rights.
*
The LORD will provide for YOU.
Be encouraged from Psalm 42 that discouragement can be a springboard into pursuing the Lord more wholeheartedly:
1 As the deer longs for streams of water,
so I long for you, O God.
2 I thirst for God, the living
God.
When can I go and stand before him?
3 Day and night I have only tears
for food,
while my enemies continually taunt me,
saying,
“Where is this God of yours?”
4 My heart is breaking
as I remember how it used to be:
I walked among the crowds of worshipers,
leading a great procession to the house of
God,
singing for joy and giving thanks
amid the sound of a great celebration!
5 Why am I discouraged?
Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in
God!
I will praise him again-
my Savior and 6
my God!
Now I am deeply discouraged,
but
I will remember you-
even from distant Mount Hermon, the source of the Jordan,
from the land of Mount
Mizar.
7 I hear the tumult of the raging
seas
as your waves and surging tides sweep over
me.
8 But each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon
me,
and through each night I sing his songs,
praying to God who gives me life.
9 “O God my rock,” I cry,
“Why have you forgotten me?
Why must I wander around in grief,
oppressed by my enemies?”
10 Their taunts break my bones.
They scoff, “Where is this God of yours?”
11 Why am I discouraged?
Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in
God!
I will praise him again-
my Savior and my God!
