Overcoming Discouragement

Have you ever felt discouraged, perhaps to the point of bordering on depression?  It may surprise you to know that you are not alone.  At one time or another we all face this problem.  

William Ward graphically described discouragement when he wrote: 

“Discouragement is dissatisfaction with the past, distaste for the present, and distrust of the future.
It is ingratitude for the blessings of yesterday, indifference to the opportunities of today, and insecurity regarding strength for tomorrow.
It is unawareness of the presence of beauty, unconcern for the needs of our fellowman, and unbelief in the promises of old.
It is impatience with time, immaturity of thought, and impoliteness to God.”

Amy Carmicheal was a single missionary lady who served in India for over 50 years.  She wrote a book entitled, “Learning of God.”  Consider her comments on discouragement in the life of a Christian:

“Everywhere the perpetual endeavor of the enemy of souls is to discourage. If he can get the soul “under the weather,” he wins. It is not really what we go through that matters, it is what we go under that breaks us. We can bear anything if only we are kept inwardly victorious…

If God can make His birds to whistle in drenched and stormy darkness, if He can make His butterflies able to bear up under rain, what can He not do for the heart that trusts Him?”

Each of us battle with this “demon of discouragement” at one time or another.  Let us learn from Scripture how to deal with the problem and how to overcome it for God’s glory. 

2Cor. 1:3-4 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.