Victory over Discouragement
Mark 1:23-28 (Jesus Drives Out an Evil Spirit)
Yard sales are interesting. It is very common in the suburban area. We all might see a new yard sale every week, during the summer. Yard sales exist by the motto, “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” There might be someone who cannot wait to get rid of their old tapes or furniture, because it has been cluttering their house. Along comes a complete stranger, who just so happens to be in need of such an item. Can you imagine the happiness on their face when they see the item at such a low price. But the funny part is: This man will simply buy the items in the yard sale to clutter his own home. And again, the cycle continues, another yard sale.
There was once a story about Satan having a yard sale. He thought of getting rid of some of his old tools that were cluttering up his house. There was gossip, slander, adultery, lying, power-hunger, greed, and lust, which he laid out on the tables. Interested buyers all came to the tables, looking for a good buy.
One customer, however, walked to the very back of the garage and found a very shiny tool on a shelf. It looked very well cared for. He brought it out to Satan and asked if it was for sale. “Oh, no!” Satan answered. “That’s my tool. Without it, I could not destroy the world! It is a valuable weapon!” “But what is it?” the customer asked. “It is the tool of discouragement,” the devil said.
Brothers and sisters, nothing takes the life out of you more than discouragement. A discouraged spirit is a powerless spirit. It is an awful feeling, and it feels like the wind has been knocked out of your soul.
Please turn with me to Mark 1:23-27. “Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, saying, “Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!” But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” And when the unclean spirit had convulsed him and cried out with a loud voice, he came out of him. Then they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.”
This man,who was possessed by an evil spirit, must have also felt discouraged when he met Jesus. He was so discouraged that he became too spiritually blind to see that Jesus wanted to heal him from his demons. The gospel of Mark states, Jesus told the demons within the man to be quiet and then ordered the evil spirit to come out of him. Jesus wanted his man to quiet his soul and spirit. So, God is also calling us to do the same. When we feel overwhelmed or attacked by demons, we often try to fight on our own and often forget to calm our spirits. If we could just quiet our souls and the demons that bring discouragement, God can work wonders in our life. But, sometimes it is easier said than done. Today we will meditate in three key phases of achieving victory over discouragement.
Battling Discouragement
“Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.” - Psalm 55:22
There might be a brother or sister who has lost their job or visa. There might be some family members who have not gotten their visa approved for many years. There are some people working late hours for an overseas company and getting little rest. This economy has made it difficult for everyone. And with it, there is discouragement.
There might be some families who are going through a difficult time within their family members. There might be misunderstandings and disagreements that result in hurting someone you were supposed to love. There might be anger where there is supposed to be love. And with this, there is discouragement.
Discouragement is an awful feeling. When life does not happen the way you planned, and you lose control of the situation, your confidence is shattered. Your motivation evaporates. Have you ever felt that way? If you have, do you remember how you were able to get over it? For you see, some people are never able to get over it. When a traumatic event occurs, discouragement sets in, and they are never the same.
Every day is a battle with discouragement. We, as humans, always want to have the best, and we spend long hours planning out our lives. The moment life does not go the way you want it to, you feel as though you have become a victim of life. In every circumstance, you are a victim. In every relationship, you are a victim. In every conflict, you are a victim. Discouragement is a strong force. It blinds your spiritual soul from seeing the positive things in life. Discouragement only allows you to be a victim, but, Children of God, He is calling you to see yourself as victors.
The Apostle Paul says in Romans 8:37, “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”
Overcoming Discouragement
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” - Matthew 11:28-29
We have all been discouraged. We all know how difficult those times can be. Some people are able to pick themselves up while some people are overcome by discouragement. It is always a curious wonder as to how some people defeat discouragement, but some are defeated by discouragement. What makes the difference? Is it Genetics? Upbringing? Mental attitude? A change in lifestyle? Many people try to change their own life after struggling with discouragement. They try hard to regain control over their own lives. When you are discouraged nothing seems better than change. A change in pace, a change in style, or a change in environment. There are a lot of people who think change is the answer. If you have a bad experience at work, quit and go look for another one. If you are disappointed in your spouse, call the divorce attorney. If you are disappointed in your friends, cut them out and go find new ones. If you are discouraged by the way you look, get plastic surgery. This is how the world is now, seeking quick human solutions, rather than looking to God.
There once was a middle-aged woman, who had a heart attack and was taken to the hospital. While on the operating table, she had a near-death experience. During that experience, she had a brief moment with God. She asked God, if this was it. But God replied, “No, you have another twenty years to live.” Upon her recovery, she was filled with great discouragement and grief. She decided to stay in the hospital and have a face lift, liposuction, botox, and tummy tuck. She even had someone come in and change her hair color. She never liked the way she looked, so she decided, since she only had another twenty years, she wanted to make the most of it and control what little time she had left.
However, when she walked out of the hospital, she was accidentally killed by a speeding ambulance. She arrived in front of God and complained, “I thought you said, I had another twenty years.” But God replied, “I did not recognize you.”
Understand, your life is not under your supreme control. Your decisions in your life are yours, but God only holds your life, every happy moment and disappointment. You cannot control and change your life with only your own willpower. Sometimes, making a lot of changes can be a form of running away. Running away never solves anything. Stand your ground, and trust in the Lord. Victory does not come from your own power. Victory comes from the power of God. Therefore, strengthen your spirit during times of disappointment.
“We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.” - 2 Corinthians 4:8-9
Strengthening your Spirit
“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” - Psalm 147:3
The Bible has a lot of wisdom. When you face an issue of discouragement, it is good to consult the Bible. Let us meditate from the story of Isaiah. Isaiah was very wise, and Isaiah, himself, knew about discouragement. The prophet wept over the sufferings and discouragement of Israel. Isaiah saw the coming of the Babylonian army and watched as they destroyed Jerusalem. The prophet, along with the rest of God’s people, was held captive, and Isaiah watched as his nation was ruined. His heart broke as he watched God’s people become discouraged and bitter. But, he was called to encourage the people of God. The wisdom he gave to the discouraged nation of Israel, is also applicable today:
“Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and strengthens the powerless. Even youths will faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted; but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:28-31)
Isaiah mentions walking and not fainting. Our life is like a long hiking journey. So much of life is about walking, going one step at time. There will be steep climbs and rocky paths, but we can not stop our journey. Someone once said that “the problem with life is that it is so daily. Everyday is a trial and everyday is a struggle.” Yet Isaiah says, we can have sustaining strength that empowers us day after day.
How wonderful does that sound? We all want to have the energy and strength to overcome life. How do we get this kind of power for living? Before we truly hear and apply the key to power, we have to embrace an eternal truth. Sometimes, it is our unwillingness to accept this truth that causes so much of our suffering and our inability to get over discouragement. And the truth is: ‘Anyone who seeks to live by their own power will eventually break down.’ Isaiah writes, “Even youths will faint and be weary and the young will fall exhausted.” No matter how young you are, how self-sufficient you may be, or how independent you may feel, if you try to live your life on your own power, you will break down. You will fail. You will give out. And you will be discouraged over and over again.
There are many people in the modern era, who do not believe in God, who continuously resist this simple truth. They do not want to be told that they cannot do or control. They do not want to be told that they are not in control of their own life.
It is only when we stop resisting this truth that we open ourselves to the power of God to work in us. He will give us victory over discouragement. Isaiah teaches, God has power and God gives power. Isaiah tells us that God gives power not to those who think they are strong, not to those who try to pull themselves up, not to those who think they can handle their own life, and not to those who are proud of their self-sufficiency. Isaiah says, God gives power to the weak, the vulnerable, the open hearted, the powerless, the willing, and those who yield to him.
If you are discouraged today, the worst thing you can do is to try to overcome it by your own power. The best thing you can do is what Isaiah directs us to do: “Wait for the Lord.” Now, this is not a passive or lazy waiting. This is a hopeful waiting and purposeful waiting, through prayer and mediation in the Word of God. It is a waiting that knows and trusts in God’s perfect timing. This is called faith.
Conclusion
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” - Romans 8:28
Unfortunately, faith can be misunderstood. Many people think having faith simply means God will end all our problems immediately. That is not faith. Someone once said that “faith is not the means by which we achieve victory; faith is the victory itself.” Victory is achieved when we trust God’s timing and wait patiently for him. Victory over discouragement is achieved when we 1) stop rushing ahead of God, 2) quiet our hearts before him, and 3) wait for His strength.
Some of you may be thinking, “Okay, I have my Bible open on my lap, and I am waiting on you, God.” And this is good, but I would like to conclude with one final point. Another key that unlocks God’s soaring power in your life is found in verse Isaiah 40:31 — “renewed.” In Hebrew the word literally means “exchange” — to exchange one thing for another. According to Isaiah, God’s strength comes only when this exchange is made. We have to give something up to make room for God’s strength.
Now, what do you think we would have to give up in order to gain God’s strength? Like a yard sale, is there anything cluttering up your souls so much that there is no room for God’s strength? For some it is pride. For others it is control. For some, it is a sinful habit. But you must let these things go. Exchange them for the glory of God.
It is time to stop trying to live life on your own power. It is time to stop pushing your agenda over God’s agenda. Give up your control for God’s control. Exchange your control for God’s control.
“Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” Romans 5:5. Amen.
