Discouragement

 

Discouragement

What can cause discouragement?

                                       

The year of 2020 has been a lesson plan for discouragement and revelation.

# FEAR - We are consistently being bombarded by every segment of society with fear.  During this pandemic we are told we need to do this and we shouldn't do this.  Anarchy is happening in the streets and fear for the safety of our families has settled into many hearts and minds.  Examples of fear and worry in our current culture are too numerous to mention.  

For now, I leave with you this reminder of a promise from God.....Deuteronomy 31:8 - "The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."

                                               

2 Timothy 1:7

 “For God has not given us a spirit of fear 

but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

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# FRUSTRATION - 2020 has been a challenging year.  At times it has been frustration on steroids.  One lesson God has shown us over and over is that we must learn the difference between what is important and what is not.    If we do not learn this less, trivial matters will continue to waste our time and consume our energy.  Learning what the most important matters are keeps us from becoming all we want to be and what God's plan is for our lives.  Today, let's focus on the blessings God has given you.  

                                                             

# FAILURE - During your moments of discouragement it is important that we do not sit down and have a self-pity party.  You are not "a loser."  What you are experiencing is only a temporary setback!  

"In the confrontation between the stream and the rock, 

the stream always win....not through strength but through perseverance".

When you get discouraged, stand on the promises of God.                                    In fact, Hebrews 10:35-36 (CEV) tells us, "Keep being brave!  It will bring you great rewards.  Learn to be patient, so that you will please God and be given what he has promised."

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# FATIGUE - (burn out, exhaustion) are major causes of discouragement.                      When God created us He designed our bodies and our soul to rest.

"Don’t allow fear to paralyze you. Let your faith mobilize you."

Rest was so important God, our Creator that He commanded the Israelites to observe a Sabbath rest every week. (Exodus 20: 8-11) 

Ask yourself when you become fatigued and burned out.....what is usually going on in my life when I get experiences these times of discouragement and discontent?                                                                                           Very often life settles into routine - then into a rut - and before long it is a ritual.       Friends, be careful.

Psalm 23: 2-3

"He makes me lie down in green pastures,

 he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul"

The Lord's Return

The Lord Jesus is coming again, visibly and personally.

As a Christian, this is our blessed hope!

2 Corinthians 4:18 tells us...." So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

 

The trouble with so many of us is that we are looking so intently and so continually at the things which are not seen, that we can not see the things at which God intends us to look.  So often we say thing like "I don't understand (see) why this has happened to me."  It is because we have been looking in the wrong place for our reason.  When we want to find some....we must look where it is. See above scripture.  

"There are 2 spheres of vision.  The focal and the marginal.  When we focus our eyes on a primary object, we see adjacent objects n the margin of our vision.  When we focus with our spiritual eyes on things eternal and on Christ, sadly we see our earthly sorrows, tests and trials in the margin of of gaze, spiritually."

Remember, we must measure the length of our difficult times here on earth with the eternal that is in store for the Christian.  They are "temporary". 

It is easy to know "about" the Lord's return, and yet fail to really be looking for "Him to return.

BE READY

Jesus said, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:3).

LOOK UP

****WATCH**** 

Mark 13:32-36                                                        “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert ! You do not know when that time will come. It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with their assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch. “Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. 37What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’ ”