Have you ever felt so discouraged that you were ready to give up? I know I have! Perhaps you are discouraged right now. If so, I’ve got good news. You don’t have to be discouraged any longer! God’s Word tells us how to overcome this thing we call discouragement.
Discouragement is the combination of fear, depression and hopelessness. Discouragement is not from God. When we get discouraged, it is difficult to hear God’s voice and much easier to listen to the discouraging voices of the world.
The Bible tells us that when the Hebrews went out of Egypt, they wandered in the wilderness. God told them that if they would go into the Promised Land, He would fight all their battles for them. God had already proven His ability to fight. All the Israelites had to do was let Him.
Before making the decision to listen to God and enter the Promised Land, the Israelites sent twelve spies ahead. Two of the spies gave a positive, encouraging report and ten gave a negative, discouraging report. The Bible says the people then became discouraged and decided not to enter into the land God had for them. That decision cost most of them their lives.
Millennia have passed, but people haven’t really changed. When people hear a negative report they almost automatically get discouraged.
And there seems no lack of negative reports! How many times has someone told you, “You can’t make it,” “You won’t win,” “God’s not going to heal you,” “That faith stuff doesn’t work!” The world does not want you to make it. But here’s the good news. God does!
God’s Word is positive. God’s Word is full of faith. His Word says in Psalm 103:3 that He heals all our diseases! Psalm 34:19 says, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all!” Romans 8:28 says, ‘that all things work together for good to those who love God.”
Whose report are you going to believe? Are you going to go with the majority that believes that all is lost or are you going to stick with God and allow Him to fight your battles for you?
Be encouraged. Hear, believe, speak and act on His Word. That’s the kind of faith that will overcome discouragement.