The Cure for Discouragement by Pastor Denzel Fenn
Posted in Pastor Fenn's Corner on 07/22/2009 06:47 am by Ellen CousartWe have all faced discouragement. This dark night of the soul overtakes most of us from time to time. John Bunyan, in Pilgrim’s Progress, called it the “slough of despondency” and most of us have fallen in a time or two.
Many of the great people of the Bible faced it. Abraham became discouraged with waiting for a promised son. Moses became discouraged by the rebellion of his people. Elijah became discouraged and wished he could die. John the Baptist got discouraged in prison and began to doubt the words he had spoken regarding Jesus. Peter got discouraged and returned to his fishing nets. Even the great apostle Paul wrote of his periods of discouragement.
In Psalm 42 and 43 David described his experience of discouragement. Several times he asks himself, “why are you cast down, O my soul?”
He explains how he is feeling. He cries a lot and he has lost his appetite. It seems as if all the good times are in the past. He feels like God is far away and perhaps has forgotten him. There is a sense of unrest in his spirit. Troubles are coming, like the waves of the sea, one after another. He feels the oppression of the evil one. Life is difficult and the future seems hopeless.
He is struggling with several things. He is troubled about the apparent success of the ungodly and reveals his struggles in Psalm 73.
He has been betrayed by his closest friend and the pain is sharp and real. He describes this in Psalm 55.
His dream of a home and peace has been dashed and discouragement has set in. 1 Samuel 30 tells the whole story.
Some of you are discouraged today. Many of your dreams lie shattered and broken and you know it’s too late in life to change that. Some of you are neglected by friends and family or a spouse has betrayed you. Perhaps your savings are slipping away and you worry about the future or your body just won’t work right and you are discouraged. Maybe your children have gone wrong and you wonder what you did wrong. In these adverse circumstances of life, discouragement often sets in.
The question is what are we to do about it?
David did three things that we observe in Psalm 42 and 43.
First, he shifted his focus from himself and his circumstances to God. He reminded himself that his hope was in God. Sometimes, like Peter, we are sinking, because we have taken our eyes off Jesus, and are focused on the circumstances around us.
Second, He remembered God’s goodness. He began to count his blessings not his burdens.
Third, he began to pray. And God heard his prayer and lifted him up and he was able to rejoice again.
If you are in a time of discouragement, I encourage you to shift your focus, remember His goodness and call on His name. You will find that He will …