Dealing With Discouragement

2. There is great potential for spiritual despondency and discouragement. • “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” (Gal. 6:9) • “Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart” (Lk 18:1) • “Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.” (Eph 3:13) • “But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good.” (2 Th. 3:13) • “Consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.” (Heb 12:3) Dealing With Discouragement

3. There is great potential for spiritual despondency and discouragement. • “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” (Gal. 6:9) • “Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart” (Lk 18:1) • “Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.” (Eph 3:13) • “But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good.” (2 Th. 3:13) • “Consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.” (Heb 12:3) • “to have one’s strength relaxed, to be enfeebled through exhaustion, to grow weak, grow weary, be tired out. to despond, become faint hearted. “(Strong) • “to lose one’s motivation—‘to become discouraged, to lose heart, to give up.” Louw/Nida Dealing With Discouragement

4. There is great potential for spiritual despondency and discouragement. • “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” (Gal. 6:9) • “Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart” (Lk 18:1) • “Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.” (Eph 3:13) • “But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good.” (2 Th. 3:13) • “Consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.” (Heb 12:3) • “to be utterly spiritless, to be wearied out, exhausted.” (Strong) • “become discouraged, give up, lose heart” Louw/Nida Dealing With Discouragement

5. There is great potential for spiritual despondency and discouragement. • There are many reasons why we may reach this point. • The difficulty of dealing with brethren in sin (Gal. 6:9; 2 Thess. 3:13) • The desire for vindication against the unrighteous (Luke 18:1) • Persecutions for righteousness sake (Eph 3:13, Heb 12:3) • Lack of love and support in the home (Eph. 5:22, 25, 6:1, 4) • Lack of love from brethren (1 Cor. 13:4,5) • Tragedy and difficult physical circumstances (Mark 5:25, Job. 14:1) • Have you ever been discouraged? Does this describe your current situation? Where do we find comfort in the midst of such despair? Dealing With Discouragement

6. Recognize that your situation is not unique (1 Cor. 13:10a) • Too often, the temptation is to wallow in the self pity that says “no one understands and no one has ever been where I am” (1 Kings 19:4-10 CF. Num. 11:14; Job. 3:20, 21; Jonah 4:3). • Regardless of how difficult things may be, we are not the first and will not be the last to face such difficulties. • “It means such as human nature is liable to, and has been often subjected to… and such as man had often contended with successfully.” (Barnes) Dealing With Discouragement

7. Recognize that your situation is not unique (1 Cor. 13:10a) • Too often, the temptation is to wallow in the self pity that says “no one understands and no one has ever been where I am” (1 Kings 19:4-10 CF. Num. 11:14; Job. 3:20, 21; Jonah 4:3). • Regardless of how difficult things may be, we are not the first and will not be the last to face such difficulties. • “no temptation or affliction had befallen them… but what either came from men, or was common to men, or which men by divine assistance, and under divine influence, might bear; and therefore should not distress themselves with the apprehensions of it, as if it was some strange or unusual thing, and as if they must unavoidably perish and be destroyed by it.” (Gill) Dealing With Discouragement

8. Recognize that your situation is not unique (1 Cor. 13:10a) • Too often, the temptation is to wallow in the self pity that says “no one understands and no one has ever been where I am” (1 Kings 19:4-10 CF. Num. 11:14; Job. 3:20, 21; Jonah 4:3). • Regardless of how difficult things may be, we are not the first and will not be the last to face such difficulties. • There is great comfort in realizing that others have faced the same, and at times worse, and endured (2 Cor. 4:8-15 CF. 2 Cor. 1:8, Heb. 11:35-39). Dealing With Discouragement

9. Recognize that God knows your limitations and potential for success (1 Cor. 13:10b) • Sometimes when our faith is tested (James 1:2; 1 Pet. 1:6-7), we are tempted to say we cannot stand it anymore; the situation is more than we can handle; in other words, God has let us down. • Such statements impugn the faithful character of God (Deut. 7:9; Ps. 146:6, Lam. 3:23). • Such statements deny God’s understanding of man’s ability (Ps. 139:1-4, 13-16). • Such statements imply a lack of care and concern on God’s part (Matt. 6:25-29, Rom. 8:31-39). Dealing With Discouragement

10. Recognize that God knows your limitations and potential for success (1 Cor. 13:10b) • Since God is faithful in times of temptation, we must approach every situation with the understanding of God’s confidence in our ability to succeed (Judg. 6:11-16). • Since God is faithful in times of temptation, we must develop the attitude that says I can successfully endure any situation (Php. 4:13). • Since God is faithful in times of temptation, we must manifest our faith in His providential care for our spiritual well being (2 Pet. 2:9, Matt. 6:13; Php. 4:6-7). Dealing With Discouragement

11. Recognize that God will never limit your options to failure (1 Cor. 13:10c) • Sometimes we become so discouraged that we think giving up or giving in to sin is the only option available (Num. 14:1-4). • This attitude fails to recognize God’s ability to provide successful deliverance (2 Pet. 2:9). • The way of escape may not be easy (Dan. 3:17-23; Dan. 6:16; Heb. 12:2) but we are assured it is always there – God will not leave us with only wrong choices – we can overcome any situation successfully if we will simply determine that we will not allow our faith to fail (Rev. 2:10). Dealing With Discouragement

12. How will you deal with discouragement? • Will you wallow in self pity and despair or will you take courage from knowing that others have faced the same and persevered? • Will you concede the fight with the attitude that you cannot overcome or will you develop the attitude that says “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”? • Will you give up and give in to sin or will you dig in your heels and seek the way of escape God provides? Dealing With Discouragement