The more people we get to know, the more joy we get to be a part of. But, the more people we get to know, the more we are also exposed to the difficulty and pain that this life can bring.
Discouragement. I’ve talked to a lot of people lately who are experiencing it. As you know from my posts, there are many times when I experience it, too. Things don’t go as planned. People let us down. Dreams fail or are delayed. Life is sometimes tougher than we imagined or hoped it would be.
I looked up the definition of discouragement and here’s what I found – “the feeling of despair in the face of obstacles”. That makes sense. Things appear too difficult or even impossible to overcome. Despair sets in as soon as we feel helpless. And we can quickly go from feeling helpless (no control over the situation) to hopeless (the situation has control over me).
I looked at it this way – DISCOURAGE. DIS – “Act or speak in a disrespectful way toward” (slang). And, of course, the standard meaning – DIS – “negation, removal”. COURAGE – “mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty” and “The ability to do something that frightens one. Strength in the face of pain or grief. ” Wow. That kind of hits it on the head. It’s Satan who tries to discourage us. And what does he do? He “acts or speaks in a disrespectful way toward” our “mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty”. He mocks the idea of us having courage. He tells us that the problem is too big and we are too small. That the way is too rough and that we are not equipped. That we will not survive the hardship, the sorrow, the disappointment.
What he fails to mention (although he DOES know it!) is that we have the great ENCOURAGER on our side. Jesus telling us that He is with us. That He will make a way. That He is at work doing a good thing. That we WILL make it and not just survive, but thrive! EN – “to put in or on; intensify” . COURAGE – “mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty” and “The ability to do something that frightens one. Strength in the face of pain or grief. ” Jesus puts courage back in us and even intensifies it as we trust Him. He truly is our Encourager.
Life is hard sometimes. That is a fact. But we don’t have to be discouraged. In spite of our circumstances, our courage can remain intact. And it’s in the hard times that our true courage really does shine. Courage is only needed in dark times. It doesn’t mean we’re not afraid. It just means that even when we ARE scared and unsure, that we hold the hand of the One who holds our future and we move forward with Him. Encouraged.
Psalm 28:13-14 – I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart (courage!) and wait for the Lord.
John 16:33 – I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.
