Discouragement is not
the absence of adequacy but the absence of courage.
Sometimes it helps to break words down to see exactly what
they mean. In many cases regarding
emotions, it helps us to better understand why we call it what we do and how
they affect us.
The root word of discouragement is courage, so it should
only make sense that the feelings associated with failure and rejection often
try to deal a blow to our inner source of courage. Courage is the ability to
confront fear, pain, risk, danger, uncertainty, or intimidation. Unfortunately, these invaders can cripple you
to the point where you avoid taking small risks that have huge potential
rewards. Courage is not the absence of
these things. It is the ability to move
forward in the face of them.
We tend to think of success in large terms and we don’t
really count the small victories in our lives as successes. Actually, the total of the small victories
really equals the huge success that
makes up our life. We also proclaim our
whole life a failure over one small defeat.
When we become discouraged it may be a sign that we have let
go of our faith in God. We need to gain
Godly courage to get us through discouraging times; to know that He is in
control.
Remember:
- There is no failure in God.
- Second, there is no defeat
in God.
- Third, there is no deficiency
in God.
Remembering these things
brings courage in discouraging times.
Godly courage will help us claim God’s promises for us in order to do
what God wants us to do. We can see this
in operation in the life of Joshua in the Old Testament. God says, Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people
shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers
to give them. Joshua 1:6.
Joshua took up the job of
leading the Children of Israel into the Promised Land after Moses died. He must have felt discouraged after his
death. He probably felt scared and inadequate. He needed Godly courage to carry out the task
and claim what God had promised, not only for him, but for a whole group of
people. Joshua needed to hear God’s
voice – to be encouraged by Him. He needed to understand that God
was adequate enough to handle the situation. All Joshua needed to do was to have FAITH in
God. Like Joshua, when we come to this
realization we can have courage because we understand that whatever we face God
is going to bring us through it. It
comes back to the issue that discouragement is really a lack of faith.
·
God
can command us to courage because He commands us to FAITH in HIM.
·
Our
fear is the product of an inadequate vision of God and nothing less.
·
How
far can you trust God in the circumstances and the mission of your life? The
same God that can heal the body and give you a job can lead you to evangelism
and missions.
Encouragement is the
process of giving courage and hope to someone. Encouragement becomes sharing about God.
Scripture to Claim:
Have I
not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for
the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.
Joshua 1:9
