Discouraged, Not Defeated

It is easy to become discouraged. Our world situation - Economy, war, terrorism,

unemployment, mortgage crisis, crime. Our personal situation - Family problems,
employment problems, physical problems. Our church life - Christians fall away,
harsh words, disappointment, personal failures.

Bible Characters Faced Discouragement. Noah preached for years and only 8 were
saved! Moses came down from Mt Sinai only to find the children of Israel worshiping
a golden calf.

Some people cave in to discouragement and it leaves them defeated. Are you
discouraged? Yes, sometimes. Are you defeated? Christians are never defeated until
they decide to be defeated!

WHEN DISCOURAGED, PRAY! When we abandon prayer we abandon hope. 1

Thessalonians 5:17“Pray without ceasing”. The problems we face often look smaller
after prayer. Jeremiah 20:7-9 “O LORD, you deceived me, and I was deceived; you
overpowered me and prevailed. I am ridiculed all day long; everyone mocks me.
Whenever I speak, I cry out proclaiming violence and destruction. So the word of the
LORD has brought me insult and reproach all day long. But if I say, "I will not mention
him or speak any more in his name," his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up
in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.” Prayer will kindle the heart
when we are weak with discouragement. Let times of discouragement lead you to
pray, not to give up. Matthew 8:5-8 “When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a
centurion came to him, asking for help. "Lord," he said, "my servant lies at home
paralyzed and in terrible suffering." Jesus said to him, "I will go and heal him." The
centurion replied, "Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just
say the word, and my servant will be healed.” The Centurion could have given up,
reacted with fear – but instead was moved to act in faith.

WHEN DISCOURAGED, TRUST. Our plans for overcoming discouragement often

fail. Robert Schuller offered these five strategies that are sure to fail when
discouraged:

Wait (for it to go away on it’s own)

Ruminate (over all the failures and problems in your life)

Procrastinate (the things you know would help the situation)

Legislate (tell others what they ought to do)

Grate (get on everyone else’s nerves)

Faith is for the tough times, not for the easy times. Proverbs 3:5 “Trust in the Lord
with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” Hebrews 13:6 “So we
say with confidence, the Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.” When discouraged
we need to re-invigorate our faith with the promises of God. Romans 8:28 “And we
know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been
called according to his purpose.” Ephesians 3:20 “Now to Him who is able to do
immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work
within us…”
WHEN DISCOURAGED, FORGIVE. How often is it that our interpersonal
relationships are causing discouragement? When we will not forgive (Matthew 6:14-
15 “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also
forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your
sins.”) We remember for years what God has forgotten for years.

WHEN DISCOURAGED, MOVE! Make a new plan, dream a new dream! A dream
can recover wasted resources. There are countless minutes in the day that could be
better spent if we had a plan. A plan gives direction, a dream gives energy. Genesis
11:6 “The LORD said, "If as one people speaking the same language they have
begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them.”

Conclusion

There are many things that can discourage us…and that discouragement can turn
into defeat if we are not paying attention. To keep from being discouraged, you
should pray, trust, forgive, and move!