WRITTEN BY DR. JIM GRASSI
Discouragement is a tactic of the evil one. After their seventy-year captivity in Babylon, Israel returned to their homeland and began rebuilding Jerusalem and its temple. But the non-Jewish people living around them opposed them and their work. Their enemies tried to discourage the people of Judah and make them afraid to go on building. They bribed officials to work against them and frustrate their plans, and finally they wrote an accusation against them to the king. They filled it with lies, so the king would force them to stop building (Ezra 4:4-16).
“Then the work on the house of God that is in Jerusalem stopped” (Ezra 4:24a).
Discouragement comes to us in a variety of ways. It preys upon our hearts, tempting us to quit, give in, or isolate. It lurks around unmet expectations, fear of the future, harsh treatment, and unexpected tragedy. Discouragement is not unnatural or a sin in and of itself, but it can quickly lead to sinful behaviors if not dealt with properly. It offers itself as a blanket of comfort, an understanding companion. But instead, it cripples us. Discouragement can stifle our trust in God and hinder our obedience. It promotes self-absorption, can obscure good judgment, and can fester into depression. Contagious by nature, discouragement can affect the people around us, bringing them down too. The good news is that we don’t have to wallow in it. Our Lord is infinitely bigger than any situation, enemy, or fear.
The Bible refers to the devil as “the accuser of our brothers and sister, who accuses them before our God day and night” (Revelation 12:10). As followers of Christ, when we sin, the accuser is right there to rub our nose in it. He may taunt us, “Yeah, look what kind of Christian you are!” Or he may plant seeds of condemnation saying, “That was one sin too many; God will never forgive you now.” Don’t listen to his accusations. He may plant seeds of doubt and whisper discouraging thoughts like, “God doesn’t care; you’re not that important to Him.” Don’t give those thoughts any credibility. Paul warns us to “take every thought captive to obey Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5). Slam the door on these falsehoods and replace them with the truth of God’s Word.
When you store up God’s Word in your heart, it is like a powerful stockpile of weapons to use against the accuser – a stockpile of hope.
Deuteronomy 31:8 declares, “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
When discouragement knocks on our door, we also need to confide in the Lord, look to Him for hope, encouragement, and strength, and trust in His faithfulness.
Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 10:13
Personal Application: Don’t battle discouragement alone. Talk to God about it and share your struggle with your spiritual mentor or a mature Christian friend. What lies does the accuser tell you to discourage you? What encouraging scripture have you stockpiled?
- Taken in part from Overcoming Barriers Men Face: Biblical Thoughts on Issues Confronting Men Today by Jim Grassi
Jim Grassi, D. Min.
We cherish any verse in Scripture that reminds us to keep focused and intentional about evangelism and discipleship. “But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.” 2 Timothy 4:5