Fighting discouragement

August 31, 2007

By Michelle Felix

I once heard the following story:

Satan was having a garage sale. He placed all of his tools except one on sale.

“Why aren’t you selling that one?” a potential buyer asked.

“It’s my most effective tool,” Satan replied. “It works every time.”

The tool was discouragement. Satan uses it often and effectively on Christians.

Of course, we can get pretty discouraged without any help from Satan. Fatigue, illness, and other physical and emotional challenges can contribute to a sense of defeat.

But whatever its source, we have ways of fighting and defeating discouragement.

Prayer is one way to battle discouragement. When we pray we are acknowledging God’s hand of care on our world. Prayer keeps us in relationship with and strengthens our connection to God.

Jesus set the example for us. He prayed at every possible occasion. He taught the disciples to do the same.

First Thessalonians 5:17 says, “Pray continually” (NIV). Prayer is talking to God. It’s hard to have a good relationship with someone if you don’t speak with him. But when you remain in communication, that relationship can blossom.

Christian fellowship is another weapon in our arsenal to fight discouragement. Proverbs 27:17 tells us that just “as iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” It is refreshing to be in the company of other believers. People around us may scoff at our belief in God, let alone our worship of Him. When we are with fellow believers, we feel a sense of togetherness and brotherhood. As we fellowship with one another we can encourage each other to stay in God’s will.

Third, we fight discouragement by getting to know God through His Word. As we read the Bible, God becomes a real Person instead of an abstract figure. Without a daily intake of physical food we get weak and eventually die. Likewise, if we do not take in spiritual food we die spiritually. Jesus said, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work” (John 4:34).

When feeling alone and depressed, it is important to remember “the Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18). “Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall” (Psalm 55:22).

When feeling like we need someone to hold us we should visualize Isaiah 41:13: “For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.”

Continue to fight discouragement by praying, fellowshipping with other Christians, and reading the Bible. Keep in mind God loves us beyond compare. Be comforted by Paul’s words in Romans 8:38,39: “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Michelle Felix lives in Denver.