Overcoming Discouragement

OVERCOMING
DISCOURAGEMENT
Psalm 42:5–6
Psalm 42:5–6
5 Why are you cast down, O
my soul, and why are you
in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall
again praise him, my
salvation 6 and my God.
Psalm 42:5–6
My soul is cast down within
me; therefore I remember
you from the land of Jordan
and of Hermon, from Mount
Mizar.
OVERCOMING
DISCOURAGEMENT
OVERCOMING DISCOURAGEMENT
The word discouragement
comes from the root word
courage. The prefix dis-
means “the opposite of.”
So discouragement is the
opposite of courage.
When we are discouraged,
we have lost the motivation
to press forward. The
mountain seems too steep,
the valley too dark, or the
battle too fierce, and we
lose the courage to continue.
In many places throughout
Scripture, God commands
His people to take courage
(Psalm 27:14; 31:24; 2
Chronicles 32:7;
Deuteronomy 31:6).
Psalm 27:14
14 Wait for the Lord;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the Lord.
Psalm 31:24
24 Be strong and take
heart,
all you who hope in the
Lord.
2 Chronicles 32:7
7 “Be strong and courageous. Do
not be afraid or discouraged
because of the king of Assyria
and the vast army with him, for
there is a greater power with us
than with him.
Deuteronomy 31:6
6 Be strong and courageous. Do
not be afraid or terrified because
of them, for the Lord your God
goes with you; he will never leave
you nor forsake you.”
When God selected Joshua
to replace Moses as the
leader of the Israelites,
some of His first words to
Joshua were “Have I not
commanded you? Be strong
and courageous. Do not be
afraid; do not be
discouraged, for the LORD
your God will be with you
wherever you go” Joshua
1:9.
The Lord based this
command upon His
previous promise to Joshua
in verse 6: “As I was with
Moses, so I will be with
you; I will never leave you
nor forsake you.”
The Lord knew Joshua was
going to face some big
battles, and He did not
want His servant to become
discouraged.
The key to overcoming
discouragement is to
remember God’s promises
and apply them.
When we know the Lord,
we can stand upon the
promises He has given His
people in His Word.
Whether or not we see the
fulfillment of those
promises in this life,
His promises still stand
Hebrews 11:13–16
13 All these people were
still living by faith when
they died. They did not
receive the things
promised; they only saw
them and welcomed them
from a distance, admitting
that they were foreigners
and strangers on earth.
14 People who say such
things show that they are
looking for a country of
their own. 15 If they had
been thinking of the
country they had left, they
would have had
opportunity to return. 16
Instead, they were longing
for a better country—
a heavenly one. Therefore
God is not ashamed to be
called their God, for he has
prepared a city for them.
This knowledge kept the
apostle Paul pressing
forward, preaching the
gospel, eventually ending
up in a Roman jail where he
lost his life.
From prison, he wrote,
Philippians 3:14
“I press on toward the
goal for the prize of the
upward call of God in Christ
Jesus”
He could press on through
persecution, rejection,
beatings, and
discouragement because
his eyes were on the
ultimate prize:
He could press on through
persecution, rejection,
beatings, and
discouragement because
his eyes were on the
ultimate prize:
hearing the words “Well
done!” from his Lord and
Savior.
Matthew 25:23
23 “His master replied, ‘Well
done, good and faithful servant!
You have been faithful with a few
things; I will put you in charge of
many things. Come and share
your master’s happiness!’;
Revelation 22:12
12 “Look, I am coming
soon! My reward is with
me, and I will give to each
person according to what
they have done.
We easily become
discouraged when we
seek reward or
affirmation from those
around us.
If our service or obedience
is based upon immediate
gratification, we may be
setting ourselves up for
discouragement.
If our service or obedience
is based upon immediate
gratification, we may be
setting ourselves up for
discouragement.
Jesus does not always take
the easy path, and He
warned His followers to
consider that before they
started (Luke 14:25–33).
When we have already
counted the cost of
discipleship, we have more
strength to face the battles
ahead. We are not so easily
discouraged when things
don’t go our way because
we know the battle is the
Lord’s (1 Samuel 17:47).
47 All those gathered here will
know that it is not by sword or
spear that the Lord saves; for the
battle is the Lord’s, and he will
give all of you into our hands.”
Discouragement can be a
warning light suggesting to
us that we have lost our
primary focus.
When we feel discouraged,
it helps to get alone with
the Lord and allow Him to
examine our hearts and our
motives (Psalm 139:23).
Psalm 139:23
23 Search me, God, and
know my heart;
test me and know my
anxious thoughts.
Often, it is pride, greed, or
covetousness that is
feeding our discouragement.
When we recognize that
attitude as sin, we can
repent, humble ourselves,
and let the Holy Spirit
readjust our expectations.
When we use
discouragement as a
reminder that our priorities
have become skewed, the
feeling of discouragement
can become a refining tool
to make us more like Jesus
Romans 8:29
29 For those God foreknew
he also predestined to be
conformed to the image of
his Son, that he might be
the firstborn among many
brothers and sisters.
The psalmist was no
stranger to
discouragement, and his
response was to remember
God and trust the promises
of the Word.
Psalm 42:5–6
“Why, my soul, are you
downcast?
Why so disturbed within
me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
Psalm 42:5–6
my Savior and my God.
My soul is downcast within
me; therefore I will
remember you”
10 Tips for Overcoming
Discouragement – Bible
1. Overcome
Discouragement by Praying
2. Listening to spirit-filled
songs
3. Talk to godly people –
3. Talk to godly people –
4. Recall past victories and
testimonies
5. Watch a movie
6. Read the bible
7. Go for a walk or work out
8. Seek godly support from
those with similar experiences
9. Encourage yourself in the
Lord
10. Be intentional about
listening to good news
(https://allroundjesus.com/overcome-discouragement/)
COUNT YOUR BLESSING

Baptist Hymnal, 1991
1 When upon life's billows you
are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged,
thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name
them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the
Lord hath done.
Refrain:
Count your blessings, name them one
by one;
Count your blessings, see what God
hath done;
by one;
Count your many blessings, see what
God hath done.
2 Are you ever burdened with a
load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you
are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, ev'ry
doubt will fly,
And you will be singing as the
days go by. [Refrain]
Refrain:
by one;
hath done;
by one;
God hath done.
3 When you look at others with
their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised
you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings,
money cannot buy
Your reward in heaven, nor your
home on high. [Refrain]
Refrain:
by one;
hath done;
by one;
God hath done.
4 So, amid the conflict, whether
great or small,
Do not be discouraged, God is
over all;
Count your many blessings,
angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your
journey's end. [Refrain]
Refrain:
by one;
hath done;
by one;
God hath done. (End)
God empowered GENEROSITY

Overcoming Discouragement

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OVERCOMING

COUNT YOUR BLESSING

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