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Jan 4, 2022 · The key to overcoming discouragement is to remember God’s promises and apply them. When we know the Lord, we can stand upon the promises He has given His people in His Word. Whether or not we see the fulfillment of those promises in this life, His promises still stand (Hebrews 11:13–16). This knowledge kept the apostle Paul pressing forward ...
- What Is Discouragement?
- A Story of Discouragement from The Bible
- What The Bible Teaches Us About Discouragement
- 5 Things to Remember When You Are Discouraged
- Seeking Encouragement When You Are Discouraged
The word discouragement comes from the root word courage. The prefix dis- means “the opposite of.” So discouragement is the opposite of courage. The dictionary definition of discouragement also includes this description: a loss of confidence, courage, or enthusiasm or the feeling of despair in the face of obstacles. When we are discouraged, we have...
There are numerous men and women in the Bible who struggled with times of discouragement. Joseph was sold into slavery by his very own brothers, Moses tried to lead stubborn and disobedient people into God’s Promised Land, and Hannah was mocked and ridiculed as she prayed for years for a child. What about Elijah running into the desert, begging God...
Our faith journeys can sometimes feel a lot like fishing. We set out in our boats, cast our nets, wait in the dark of night, and often come back empty. When we seek measurable results (like nets that are bursting with an abundant catch), discouragement sets in when our wholehearted efforts yield very little to nothing. This kind of discouragement c...
Bring God Your Nothing
The story of Peter is such an encouraging reminder that we can bring our nothing to God! Jesus did not accuse Peter of being a lousy fisherman or ridicule him for not catching anything. He offered Peter another way instead. So when you are depleted with nothing left to give, offer your emptiness to God and let Him do the filling.
Wait to Hear God’s Voice
Isn’t it interesting in both stories that Peter followed Jesus’ advice without knowing who He was first? That could mean that Peter had a sensitive spirit that was open and ready to hear God’s voice. Sometimes we rush ahead to overcome our discouragement by using our strength, willpower, and initiative. God may be asking us to wait, be still, and listen for His directions (even when we may not completely understand them!).
Focus on Your Response Instead of Your Results
It is easy to read the stories of Jesus miraculously filling Peter’s nets with fish and focus on the results, right? He listened to what Jesus told him to do and caught tons of fish! And we wonder if there is some formula we can follow to achieve similar success. But we miss the whole point of the story if we only focus on the results. The most incredible takeaway is not that Peter’s net was overflowing to the point of breaking because he followed Jesus’s instructions but instead that he obey...
Dear friend, if you are experiencing discouragement on your faith journey, I want to be the one to encourage you! I know what it feels like to be overlooked, rejected, and ignored. I understand the weariness that comes from repeatedly casting your nets (i.e., putting yourself out there!) and coming up empty. So let me encourage you today by sending...
Aug 24, 2012 · Discouragement is a temptation “common to man” (1 Corinthians 10:13). And in dealing with it sometimes we need tenderness and other times we need toughness. But either way discouragement is not to be tolerated or wallowed in. It’s to be fought. If we linger in discouragement it can be costly. Its sense of defeat and hopelessness saps us ...
Jul 31, 2013 · By God’s grace, through His Word, we can overcome discouragement. “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Cor. 15:58).
- Derek Kidner writes, “Like every spiritual advance, from Abraham’s to the missionary expansion in Acts, this venture began with a word from the Lor...
- Discouragement had led the people to abandon work on the temple for 16 years. These prophets called them back to work. There is something encouragi...
- As we saw last week, the enemy will not be idle when we make a new beginning with the Lord. No sooner had the people begun to build than Tattenai,...
- Behind these events of the renewal of God’s people, God was sovereignly at work. Mervin Breneman writes, “Ezra-Nehemiah constantly reiterates God’s...
Mar 10, 2017 · So we sit, weighed down by fear and condemnation, feeling stuck. But God doesn’t want us feeling stuck. Jesus didn’t endure crucifixion so we would live defeated. He has purchased our forgiveness of sins, our freedom from the weight of fear, and our power to overcome the world, our flesh, and the devil. Discouragement is not as powerful as ...
Oct 16, 2024 · God can handle your doubts, your frustrations, your questions and yes, even your disappointments. Never let the enemy turn you away from God. Rather let your discouragement push you toward God. He will share with you what you need to hear to overcome your discouragement and successfully manage getting out of the expectation gap.
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Mar 17, 2017 · Thanksgiving is a counterintuitive antidote to discouragement because when we feel discouraged, we don’t feel like giving thanks. That’s why we must remember those two common principles: 1) fulfilling joys usually require strenuous pursuit, and therefore, 2) we often don’t feel like pursuing the things we need most.
