Dear Friends! Have you been discouraged?
When you look at the word DIS-COURAGE….it means lack of courage which really means lack of heart! Sometimes life happens and you feel LACK of COURAGE….or the heart to “get back up.” We all face discouragement in life. I have faced discouragement myself here lately. But I came to the Lord and the Word of God to see what to do with discouragement.
Right now I WANT TO EN-COURAGE YOU! I WANT TO GIVE YOU BACK YOUR COURAGE…..THE HEART TO KEEP GOING AND GET BACK UP AGAIN~
LOOK at what David asked himself!
Psalm 43:5
Why are you sad (discouraged, downcast), O my soul? Why have you become troubled within me? Hope in God, for I will praise Him again, my help and my God.
He said HOPE & PRAISE filled him with encouragement.
What’s getting your down?
Circumstances? Unexpected crisis? The Pandemic?
Politics? Failures? Covid-19?
No matter what is getting you down I want you to know that You are going to get through this! Like David said…..I will hope in God …I will praise him again….He is my help and My God…He will not abandon me.
Let’s read the whole Psalm
Psalm 43 New Life Version
43:1-5
Stand by me, O God, and speak in my favor against a sinful nation. Save me from the lying and sinful man. For You are the God of my strength. Why have You turned away from me? Why do I have sorrow because those who hate me come against me with power? Send out Your light and Your truth. Let them lead me. Let them bring me to Your holy hill and to the places where You live. Then I will go to the altar of God, the God of my joy. And I will praise You with the harp, O God, my God. Why are you sad, O my soul? Why have you become troubled within me? Hope in God, for I will praise Him again, my help and my God.
Notice in verse 5 how he changes from speaking to God to speaking to himself.
He’s like…Hey God…stand by me…..Hey God…you are my strength…..Hey God WHERE ARE YOU?…. HEY DAVID…man what’s up with you? Oh, I am just gonna praise….Hey Lord…Can you do me a favor now? I need some light! I need some truth! I’m a little confused! You know what? I’m just gonna praise again!
Hey David, Man, what’s wrong…why are you so discouraged….YOU WILL FIND HOPE AGAIN!
I’m just gonna PRAISE HIM AGAIN!
Have you ever talked with God like that? I sure have!
Here are a few suggestions from the Word to TACKLE Discouragement!
- Encourage yourself…speak to yourself. Remind yourself how GOOD God is and How faithful HE is.
1 Samuel 30:6 New American Standard Bible
Also, David was in great distress because the people spoke of stoning him, for all the people were embittered, each one because of his sons and his daughters. But David (encouraged himself in the Lord felt strengthened in the Lord his God.)
- Find hope by looking for solutions instead of dwelling on the problem.
David asked himself another question….why is my soul discouraged? Why am I feeling so low? What happened to my hope and my faith? He decided to have another thought and lean into the answer instead of the problem.
HE DECIDED TO THINK ON THE THINGS OF THE LORD!
PAUL ALSO SAID IT SO WELL!
Philippians 4:8 New Life Version
Christian brothers, keep your minds thinking about whatever is true, whatever is respected, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever can be loved, and whatever is well thought of. If there is anything good and worth giving thanks for, think about these things.
Colossians 3:1-4 New Life Version
If then you have been raised with Christ, keep looking for the good things of heaven. This is where Christ is seated on the right side of God. Keep your minds thinking about things in heaven. Do not think about things on the earth. You are dead to the things of this world. Your new life is now hidden in God through Christ. Christ is our life. When He comes again, you will also be with Him to share His shining-greatness.
- Enter into the Joy of the Lord
Psalm 126:5-6,
“Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.
Jeremiah 15:16,
“When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, LORD God Almighty.”
Habakkuk 3:17-19,
“Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails, and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he enables me to tread on the heights.”
Nehemiah 8:10 New Life Version
Ezra said to them, “Go, eat and drink what you enjoy, and give some to him who has nothing ready. For this day is holy to our Lord. Do not be sad for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
- Laugh MORE!
When you are tackling discouragement, you need to Stop watching sad movies and watch something happy! Reset your focus! Laughter is like medicine and it’s good for you!
Proverbs 17:22 New King James Version
A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones.
- Encourage yourself in the Lord
- Think on the solution instead of the problem
- Enter into the Joy of the Lord
- Laugh more
Discouragement is a real emotion! When it’s not attended to, it will take you down to the pits of despair! But today we say NO to SATAN and his plan over your life. I SPEAK LIFE OVER YOU AND COURAGE in the name of JESUS!
Right now, as you are reading this, I pray that you feel the power of the Holy Spirit filling you up with HOPE and COURAGE again!
May the Lord keep you from falling to the pit of despair. Hope is your anchor~ Hang on!
YOU ARE GOING TO COME OUT OF THIS STORM!!!
The Lord is going to bring courage back to your heart, a smile back to your face, joy back to your house, laughter back to your soul, and freedom back in your spirit! So, TACKLE discouragement with the HOPE & Praise!
