Have you ever had thoughts of unworthiness? Low self-esteem? Perhaps a constant “putting down” from people when you were old enough to know the pain? Not physical, but emotional pain. Such as when a child is classified as “slow” when they don’t read as well as another or understand quite as readily as some of their classmates. It’s the kind of pain that an insecure teenage boy feels when he is not the best athlete or a teenage girl who is not the prettiest, the pain that discourages and leads to depression. This inner torment, this constant battle of “do I belong, am I important, should I go on?”

Worry and discouraging thinking exist to some extent in all of our lives. As parents, we are frustrated by a child’s lack of focus on schoolwork. As a spouse, maybe we’re saddened over our relationship as the family’s breadwinner, discouraged by losing a job. Overwhelming sadness sets in as a widow/widower because our chosen mate passed on before us.

In my non-professional opinion, its natural progression, if not dealt with, could lead to depression. I am not an expert on the matter by any stretch of the imagination, nor do I claim to be. However, I will say that I have been discouraged at times. I have overcome that discouragement by listening to those who have dealt with problems in their lives. More importantly, I turn to the word of God as my guide and manual for living life.

The truth is Jesus fully understands our discouragements, our times of deepest pain, and the time when we feel completely abandoned. In Matthew 26:36-44, we have the record of Jesus in The Garden of Gethsemane. He plainly states in verse 38a: “My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: …” then in verse 39: “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away from me: nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou will.”

At this point, I believe that Jesus was starting to feel abandoned, the knowledge that God would allow His perfect plan to take place to reconcile humanity to Him by Jesus dying on the cross. Jesus knew that this was the only way.

Jesus set the supreme example for all of us that live before the Creator of all things. In the last part of his prayer in verse 39 of Matthew 26, Jesus states: “Not as I will, but as thou will.” What a statement we need to utter in our prayer life daily. It is not about our will; it is about what God wants us to be, what He wants from us.

We were meant to live positive Christian lives. Will you allow discouragement to steal, destroy and eventually kill? “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly.” (Joh.10:10 NKJV)

Understand the marvelous grace of God, that He sent his Son to lay his life down for us, for our redemption. He offered himself to be the Savior; He was both the provided and the offering. From the beginning, it is plain that he died in the place and stead of men; to obtain their being set free from the punishment of sin, to obtain the pardon of their sin. Our Lord did not lay his life down for a doctrine or a treatise but for His sheep.

Life is what God intends for us. Today, the world is much like the religious hierarchy of hardened Israel, intent on killing and destroying everything God created. Satan is working daily, disguising himself as a sheep in wolf clothing, ready to devour humankind. 

Christ is the true Shepherd who came to bring abundant life to the people of God. How unreal are the ideas of those who think the Christian leads a life of boring inhibition, sitting out their years in the chilly twilight of dark gloom, forbidden to do anything that everyone else wants, and always cowering in fear before an angry God! On the contrary, the Christian life is happy, free, prosperous, plentiful, adventurous, and exciting beyond any other kind of existence. Why can not men believe their Creator, to the effect that the way of Christ is the way of joy and fulfillment? With Christ, my cup is not “half full,” It is 100% filled to the top, overflowing with the promise of never leaving me as an orphan and never forsaking me!

Allow me to provide a few thoughts/principles that have never failed to help me in my daily struggles taken from Paul’s letter to the Philippians.

“Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God, and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.” (Php.4:4-9)

First, Paul tells us to Rejoice! Sounds simple, but our outlook on life and how we live depends mainly on our rejoicing ALWAYS in the Lord. As we do in times of ease, we are also to rejoice during trials; under challenging times. You may say, “I have nothing to rejoice in.” I would disagree.

The Great Physician wants to be with you, wrap His loving arms around you, and pull you close to His heart. It may not solve your problems, but it can give you peace knowing that our Lord is nearby, willing, ready, and able to be your Shepherd. I always rejoice that I have God. I may not be wealthy or have the health of my youth, but I can rejoice because Jesus died for me, too, a sinner without hope; he willingly became my sin sacrifice. We should “fix” our eyes on Jesus, never looking anywhere but to Him (Heb.12:2). Rejoice that all good things come from above (James 1:17).

Second, allow tenderness, love, and forgiveness to rule my life. Verse 5 of this passage tells us clearly that we should be men and women of gentle spirits before the world. In the discouragements of life, we should show our kindness in dealing with those times of being down. Some of the dismay in my life comes from interaction with the very ones we are to ENCOURAGE and deal with gently. The comforter is there for us, holding us up before God, holy and pure despite our sinfulness! Isn’t it great that the example we have is that of Christ, who still today deals gently with us?

Third, worry does not buy us one extra day of life. It will take precious days from us if we do not handle it correctly. Satan understands this better than we do, and I believe he uses it as a tool to rob us of that very life that God gives us. Satan may not kill us, but he is working against us to discourage us and make us think that God is far from us and that He does not care for us. Remember these words from Jesus in Matthew chapter six, verses 25-34. Jesus uses verses twenty-five and thirty-four as bookends to this section of the great sermon on the mount; (vs.25a) “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life” (vs.34) “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (NASB) 

The way to combat discouragement; is to pray. Let your requests be made known. Prayer is our communication to God through Christ Jesus; no more excellent counselor has ever lived than the one who dies for us. I hope you have an active prayer life. It is not just the times you pray for unique things throughout the day but also a time set aside and designated that you will use to open up your heart to God. I pray frequently; it does not keep me from the attacks of Satan during the day; it just means that with the Master by my side, I am better equipped to deal with the prince of evil.

It would serve us well to remember that God will guard our hearts through Christ Jesus when we humbly and faithfully serve Him. God takes care of all creation; what greater love and concern does He have for humankind who He created in His image? Shouldn’t that alone encourage us that the Great Creator cares for us? Finally, dwell on spiritual things, and stay on good things. Don’t fill your life with something that will bring you down and tear you away from God. Don’t rest on the words of “I Can’t”; be doers, be men and women who have their lights so trimmed that you are a bright beacon to the world of darkness.