We've been brainwashed to believe that discouragement is a fact of life...you win some, you lose some, sigh. Things don’t always work out, it might not work for you, blah blah blah, sigh.
Cry.
But what does the Word say?
‘For when they went up to the valley of Eshcol and saw the land, they discouraged the sons of Israel so that they did not go into the land which the LORD had given them.’ [Numbers 32:9]
‘Then the people of the land discouraged the people of Judah, and frightened them from building…’ [Ezra 4:4]
"’For all of them were trying to frighten us, thinking, "They will become discouraged with the work and it will not be done."’ [Nehemiah 6:9]
‘Then the officials said to the king, "Now let this man be put to death, inasmuch as he is discouraging the men of war who are left in this city and all the people, by speaking such words to them; for this man is not seeking the well-being of this people but rather their harm." [Jeremiah 38:4]
It is clear from these passages that the purpose of discouragement is to stop us from possessing the promises of God or succeeding in His will for us. Which, actually, are the same thing…if it wasn’t His will for us to enjoy His promises, He wouldn’t have made them! But that’s another topic for another time…
We know that all of the promises of God are YES in Him [1 Corinthians 6:17] and that His works were finished from the foundation of the world [Hebrews 4:3] We know that His Word is settled forever [Psalm 119:89] and that He watches over His Word to perform it [Jeremiah 1:12]. In fact, He said:
‘So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth ; It will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.’ [Isaiah 55:11]
So when you’re feeling discouraged, remember…it’s one and only purpose is to stop you in your tracks! It is NOT for your well-being but for your harm.
To stop His Word from succeeding in the matter for which He sent it.
So What To Do?
Do the Word…
‘Look, the Lord your God has set the land before you; go up and possess it, as the Lord God of your fathers has spoken to you; do not fear or be discouraged.’ [Deuteronomy 1:20]
Watch the Word…
‘…while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.’ [2 Corinthians 4:18]
‘For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him.’ [Colossians 1:13-16]
By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing Him who is unseen.’ [Hebrews 11:27]
Cry out…
“To You they cried out and were delivered; in You they trusted and were not disappointed.” [Psalm 50:5]
Praise the Lord…
‘When they began singing and praising, the Lord set ambushes against the sons of Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; so they were routed.’ [2 Chronicles 20:22]
Live in His peace…
‘Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.’ [John 14:27]
Hallelujah!
