Discouraged?
Pastor M. H. Reynolds, Jr.
April 19, 1919 - Sept. 3, 1997
©FOUNDATION Magazine, 1982
DISCOURAGEMENT
IS SWEEPING OUR WORLD like a mighty tidal wave. As society goes through one violent
upheaval after another, people are suddenly faced with the realization that the things
they had counted upon to provide a measure of stability and security are vanishing before
their very eyes. Men and institutions, once considered to "steady as a rock" are
now discovered to have "feet of clay." The resulting disillusionment casts a
pall of uncertainty, doubt and fear! People of the world often express the current
situation in these words–"Everything is up for grabs." Under such
conditions, it is not surprising that discouragement is the prevailing mood of those who
know not Christ as Saviour. With no stability for the present and no real hope for the
future, what else could be expected? But what about believers? Should those who say they
are standing upon the promises of God be camping in the wilderness of discouragement
instead of dwelling in the House of praise?
Of course, believers are still in the flesh, and the
weakness of the flesh is an undeniable fact. Our Lord had to remind Peter that "the
spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak" (Matt. 26:41). It is true that
the pervading fog of discouragement that blankets the world touches the lives of believers
as well. But is this sufficient cause to justify discouragement in the lives of God's
children? Undeniably, many believers are going through times of trial and testing far
greater than any they have experienced before. How our hearts go out to those who carry
the heavy burden of serious and long-standing physical and emotional needs–their own
or those of loved ones. What a difficult time it must be for those who suddenly face an
economic crisis through unemployment and mounting bills! And, what about believers who
face family problems that seem to have no possible solution?
In addition to facing problems that are also common to
unbelievers, many of God’s people are being tested by mounting spiritual problems
within the Church. A growing number of faithful pastors face real discouragement as their
congregations rebel against the "strong meat of the Word" and insist upon
following the path of worldliness and compromise. And, what about the rapidly increasing
number of individual believers who feel like "spiritual orphans" because they
are unable to find a church or pastor in their area that will be true to God's Word
regardless of the consequences? Would any or all of such trials provide just cause for a
believer to become discouraged?
The answer, of course, is a resounding NO! God has given
us "exceeding great and precious promises" (I Pet. 1:3, 4) which are
specifically designed to dispel discouragement. If we believe God and walk by faith,
discouragement cannot remain in our hearts and lives. But, if we insist upon walking by
sight, the voices of self and Satan soon predominate. When that happens, we can see only
the stormy seas, and our hearts grow faint. Discouragement is the inevitable result.
Furthermore, it is essential for believers to recognize that discouragement is actually a
direct result of doubt. God's Word makes it clear that doubt is one of the strongest and
most frequently used weapons in Satan's arsenal and that the devil uses doubt with
believers as well as unbelievers. The problem is that many Christians would never confess
to doubt in their lives, yet they readily admit to discouragement. By this subterfuge,
Satan encourages the believer who is discouraged to say, "I just can't help it"
instead of admitting the truth-"I just don’t believe God." If that
statement seems too extreme, too severe, consider the following promises of God: "Cast
not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have
need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry"
(Heb. 10:35-37). "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man:
but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but
will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it"
(1 Cor. 10:13). "And we know that all things work together for good to them that
love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose" (Rom. 8:28).
These, and many other great and precious promises of God's Word, leave us with the
inescapable conclusion that discouragement should have no place in the life of any
believer, no matter how severe and long the testing may be! God says we must not cast away
our confidence–our faith in Him. He reminds us that there is often a time-lag between
doing the will of God and receiving the promises. During that interval, we
must not draw back front our confidence. We must be patient. We should be comforted and
encouraged by the blessed hope. Christ is coming back. His return could be at my moment!
We may not understand the full meaning and purpose of our present trials. But if we
walk by faith, our testimony will be one of praise and joy–not of discouragement!
Thank God, He his given every one of His children the "shield
of faith" with the guarantee that through its use we shall be able to quench "ALL
the fiery darts of the wicked (Eph. 6:10-17). That includes Satan's twin darts of
doubt and discouragement. May God help us to effectively use every piece of the armor He
has provided so that our testimony for Him may be bright and clear until He comes.
