HOW TO OVERCOME DISCOURAGEMENT
Psalm 61:1-8
Discouragement is defined as "a loss of confidence or enthusiasm; dispiritedness”. A man by the name of William Ward goes a little further in his definition of discouragement. He says:
Discouragement is dissatisfaction with the past, distaste for the present, and distrust of the future. It is ingratitude for the blessings of yesterday, indifference to the opportunities of today, and insecurity regarding strength for tomorrow. It is unawareness of the presence of beauty, unconcern for the needs of our fellowman, and unbelief in the promises of old. It is impatience with time, immaturity of thought, and impoliteness to God. (Source: William Ward. Today in the Word, April, 1989, p. 18.)
Psalm 61 records the response of a man who possessed immense trust in the Father even during what could have been a time of extreme discouragement. King David declared in verse 2, “When my heart is overwhelmed; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” David does not go into detail as to what he is enduring but many believe that this was written when he was fleeing from Absalom. The King’s life was in danger and the man leading the charge was his own flesh and blood. Absalom had stolen the hearts of Israel and seized his father’s throne. Now David has fled his Kingdom, his people, and his own son. Truly, this was a time of great trouble and sorrow for the King.
There are times when we are immersed in periods of immense discouragement. Perhaps you are in the midst of such a time right now, if so I would like for you to know that it is possible to endure and even overcome discouragement.
When trouble comes many are tempted to give up and turn away from God. Though this is a common temptation and it may seem to be the easiest thing to do, it is never the right thing to do. Thankfully, the Word of God shows us how we should properly respond in times of discouragement and frustration. One such place is the Psalm that we will consider today. I would like to examine the words of the Psalmist and see “How To Overcome Discouragement”
In the Bible, to "overcome" signifies victory over challenges, temptation, and spiritual adversaries through faith in God and His grace, particularly in the context of a relationship with Jesus Christ. It's not necessarily about a life free of trials, but rather about triumphing within those trials.
- In order to overcome discouragement:
WE MUST RETAIN THE PROPER PERSPECTIVE
David says, “Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer; from the end of the earth I call to you.” The King goes on to declare that his "heart is overwhelmed". In the Hebrew "overwhelmed" literally means to shroud. This carries the idea of being clothed in darkness.
David was facing a time of loneliness and darkness in his life. Though it may have seemed that God was a million miles away, David remembered where he should go in a time like this; he took his burdens to the Father. Keep in mind, David was a man of great power. He was the chosen King of Israel, but in his time of distress, he was humble enough to go to the Lord for help.
We have all endured those times when we felt overwhelmed and it seems that a dark cloud is hanging over our head. Often in times such as these we feel as if God is million miles away, we feel helpless and alone, and we may even ponder of God even hears our prayers. This Psalm shows us how we should respond when we are overwhelmed. We must turn to the Lord, trust in the Lord, and tell it to the Lord.
- In one of the classic hymns of the faith, E.A Hoffman said:
I must tell Jesus all of my trials;
I cannot bear these burdens alone;
In my distress He kindly will help me;
He ever loves and cares for His own.
David goes on to say “lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” David was chosen by God to be the mighty King of Israel but he was wise to remember that there was One who was higher than he was. The King had the proper perspective.
God is faithful, true, all powerful, & all knowing, therefore we can trust Him when we are overwhelmed and discouraged. When we have the proper perspective and remember the Lord’s position we can not only endure troubles, we can paise Him in the midst of them. Isaiah said, “O Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you; I will praise your name, for you have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure” (Isaiah 25:1).
When troubles come, we discouragement sets in, and when we are overwhelmed we must retain the proper perspective and cry out to the Lord. It is also true that in order to overcome discouragement:
WE MUST REST IN THE LORD’S PROTECTION
Even though David was facing extreme circumstances that caused him to feel overwhelmed, he was wise enough to trust in the Lord and rest in the protection that only He could provide. The King praised the Lord for His protection in the past and he trusted that He would protect Him in the present and in the future.
Speaking of the past he said, "(Lord) you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy.” Difficulty was nothing new for David. God had protected him from the anger and hatred of his predecessor King Saul. While on the run from Saul David trusted in the Lord - He cried out, “Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by” (Psalm 57:1). Now David is in the midst of great difficulty once again, and He remembers all that the Lord has done for Him.
If you are struggling with discouragement in the present, remember the past. Consider all of the times that God has protected you from harm. If He was faithful to protect you then and you can trust Him to protect you now and in the future.
David uses the term “strong tower” to describe God. The strong towers were there to strengthen the city walls and serve as a lookout for enemy. God is our strong tower and we can trust Him to protect and defend us today.
Speaking of the present and the future David said, “Let me dwell in your tent forever! Let me take refuge under the shelter of your wings! Selah”. The King refers to himself as an everlasting guest in the tabernacle of the Lord. The word “wings” is mentioned in connection with the protection of God. Just as a mother hen gathers her little ones under her wings to protect them. God wraps His arms around His children to protect us.
This life and world that we live in can be a scary place. However, we have no need to fear because we have a Refuge. We have no need to fear because the LORD is our protector. We have no need to fear because God is our Father. (Romans 8:15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”)
If you are discouraged, overwhelmed and fearful, cry out to your Heavenly Father. If you want to successfully deal with discouragement, rest in the Lord's protection.
To overcome discouragement we must retain the proper perspective, we must rest in the Lord’s protection, finally we will see that we must:
Remember The Lord’s Provision
v5 For you, O God, have heard my vows; you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name. 6 Prolong the life of the king; may his years endure to all generations! 7 May he be enthroned forever before God; appoint steadfast love and faithfulness to watch over him!
Even in a time of extreme trouble David could praise the Lord for his blessings. Praising in difficult times is not always easy but if we want to overcome discouragement it is necessary. Often, it is times of trouble that help us to realize just how blessed we are.
When life gets you down, when sorrows abound, when enemies surround you, and when discouragement sets in, we tend to forget all that God has done for us. We fail to remember that He gave us life, our families, friends, health, and so many other blessings.
Furthermore, our Heavenly Father He sent his only begotten Son to die for our sins. God did this so that we could be reconciled to Him and live with the assurance of eternal life.
Tragically, when troubles come we begin to question whether God sees or cares about what we are going through. Moreover, there are some times when we go so far as to blame Him for allowing us to endure such overwhelming and discouraging situations. In order to overcome discouragement it is imperative for us to pause and remember the Lord’s gracious provision throughout our lives. God’s faithfulness is truly great! As Thomas Chisolm wrote,
Great is thy faithfulness, O God, my Father;
There is no shadow of turning with thee.
Thou changest not, thy compassions, they fail not;
As thou hast been, thou forever wilt be.
Great is thy faithfulness,
Great is thy faithfulness,
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed thy hand hast provided;
Great is thy faithfulness,
Lord unto me.
David closes this Psalm by expressing his confidence that the Lord will continue to protect and provide for him. He looked forward to a day when the sorrows dissipate and he would enjoy the immense blessings of God. Even in one of the darkest periods of His life, the King was able to say, “So will I ever sing praises to your name, as I perform my vows day after day.”
This is a picture of a man who knew how to overcome discouragement. Regardless of your circumstances, you have the opportunity to do the same. If you will Retain The Proper Perspective, Rest In The Lord’s Protection, and Remember The Lord’s Provision then you can successfully overcome discouragement.
