The third and final D-Word in this series is Discouragement.
Discouragement may greet you when you rise in the morning or when you lay down to sleep for the night. Yet, there is a cure for this Dream Killer. It’s called the Word of God. Let’s take a look at the life of the Apostle Paul. Paul had many reasons to be discouraged. In 2 Corinthians 11:24-27, Paul tells us, “Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.” Wow, as I said, Paul had reason to be discouraged.
Yet, what did Paul do? Paul said, “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10) Paul knew he could not deal with his hardships and discouragements alone, he needed the Lord Jesus.
What can Paul’s life teach us about handling discouragement?
1. Trust in God. If God is for us, who can be against us (Romans 8:31) and in Acts 27:25, Paul decalred, “So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me.”
2. You can do it, you can make it. You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you (Philippians 4:13)
3. Be convinced that nothing can separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:38-39)
4. Let others in the faith help you overcome your discouragement (Acts 28:15)
I want to end with a scripture from Isaiah 41:10 (AMP), “Do not fear [anything], for I am with you;
Do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, be assured I will help you;
I will certainly take hold of you with My righteous right hand [a hand of justice, of power,
of victory, of salvation].”
If you are feeling discouragement or feeling overwhelmed, study the life of the Apostle Paul. What God did for him, He will do for you. Jesus tells us to take heart, “In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
I hope you found some inspiration and encouragement in this series on D-Words/Dream Killers. Remember, you cannot be defeated; so do not quit. God bless you.
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