CLIMBING OUT OF THE HOLE: WINNING OVER DISCOURAGEMENT
“‘The paper guy’s here!’ Every Monday morning a cashier at Eckerd’s drugstore greets me with these words. A manager gives her a key and she fishes $3 and change from a cash drawer and pays me for copies of the Kansas City Star sold the previous week. I pick up the 10 or 12 unsold papers and throw them in my car, next to the returns from the supermarket, the donut shop and the Texaco gas station.
Quite a difference from a year ago. Then, I would announce myself in response to a judge’s perfunctory order: ‘Counsel, state your appearance.’ Instead of delivering papers from 1:30am to 6 am, I spent my nights sleeping and my days in an office, a courtroom or a library.
It all changed 12 months ago. For the second time in 6 years, I abandoned my solo law practice. I stopped returning phone calls, forgot to pay bills and ignored court dates. I began to sleep 16 hours a day. By July of last year I stopped coming into the office, leaving it to fill up with unopened mail and indignant phone messages. By August I was behind on my office rent, and by October, my landlord asked me to leave. I ate, but nothing tasted good. I slept, but woke up tired. I felt like a stranger around my wife and 2 daughters. Thoughts of suicide shadowed me, and in the midst of all this, I knew. IT had returned.
Tracy Thompson, the journalist calls IT ‘The Beast.’ To Winston Churchill, IT was his ‘Black Dog.’ To me, it is both of these; a nameless, faceless thing that infects me with a despondency so bleak I fear I will never feel joy again. IT is depression.” (Taken from a newspaper account by Michael Norlen on his battle with depression).
In the United States today, 17 million people are currently suffering from depression. In addition to those incapacitated by depression, there are countless millions of others who continue to function, but who are seemingly in a haze, due to discouragement or disillusionment. These are people who are down and discouraged, but for who there is no medical explanation.
Depression and discouragement are nothing new. They are not conditions new to society, they are not conditions new to the world and they do not affect only non-Christians. Some of the strongest Christians, some of the most godly people in the world have gone through periods of depression and discouragement. Some of the people most used by God, have suffered some of the worst periods of depression and discouragement, when they have seemed unable to continue, when it seemed that there was no joy in sight.
When we look back through the Bible, we remember for instance, Elijah. In 1 Kings we read about Elijah, the great prophet of God, during a time of depression. Earlier, Elijah had called down fire from heaven to burn up the sacrifice and the altar that he had offered to God. God sent fire, as Elijah requested, and then Elijah had all of the pagan priests killed. But that was before. In chapter 19 we read that he was so depressed, he was so discouraged, that he asked God to kill him.
We also remember Jeremiah. In both the 1st & 15th chapters of Jeremiah, we read of the discouragement, the depression and the frustration of Jeremiah. He too cried out and asked how long God would forget him; how long God would forsake him. Jeremiah was discouraged.
Remember John the Baptist? When John was imprisoned, he sent messengers to Jesus and basically said, “I know you are the Lord, but, if you are the Lord why haven’t you established Your kingdom and why am I in prison? I don’t understand. Why are things going the way they are? He was discouraged.
My friends, I want you to know that even Paul, one of the men accused of turning the world upside down for Christ; Paul, the man who planted churches across the Roman empire; Paul, the man, who with divine inspiration wrote a large portion of the New Testament; even Paul, was sometimes discouraged, and depressed.
> 1 Corinthians 2:3 And I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling.
According to this verse, in the early days of Paul’s ministry in Corinth, he was a wreck. He felt powerless, ineffectual, discouraged, depressed, and defeated. He felt whipped. But that is not how he ended his ministry there. Before Paul left Corinth, he was preaching boldly, with power, and with victory. Before he left he had led many people in the city to Christ and he had planted a church.
Turn back with me please to Acts chapter 18 and verse 1. Let’s look together and see what caused Paul’s discouragement and God changed that discouraged Paul into a victor.
- Acts 18:1-17
I. REASONS FOR DISCOURAGEMENT
As we look at this passage, let’s think for a moment about the reasons Paul was discouraged during his early ministry in Corinth. I believe in this passage we can see 4 major reasons for discouragement.
1. Private Solitudes – One of the reasons Paul was discouraged was because of his private solitudes. In other words, Paul was discouraged and depressed because he was alone. It has been said that the loneliest place in the world is in a crowd, and I believe that is true. If you have ever traveled before, you know what it is like when you get in the middle of a crowd, when there is no one around that you know, and it seems that it is you against the world. That’s the situation Paul found himself in here.
When Paul arrived in Corinth, he didn’t have Barnabas with him, he didn’t have Timothy with him, he didn’t have Silas with him, and he didn’t have any of his former friends or traveling companions with him. He was a man alone. He looked around the city of Corinth, and he found no friends he grew up with, that he could share old memories with. He didn’t have any family in the city. He saw nothing around him that brought back old memories. He was a man alone in a strange city, and he was discouraged.
Let me tell you my friends, loneliness can cause you to be discouraged or depressed. When you are home alone with the children during the day and have no other adult to talk with, it can cause you to be depressed. When you are a young single, trying to make it in the world alone and it seems that every other person in the world has found their spouse, it can be depressing. When you suddenly find yourself at home alone after 5, 10, or even 50 years of marriage, it can be depressing.
Solitude, loneliness, can be depressing.
Not only can private solitudes depress and discourage, but so can previous setbacks.
2. Previous Setbacks – Previous Setbacks can cause you to be discouraged or depressed. In verse 1 we read, “After this”, or “After these things”, he left from Athens and went to Corinth. After what? After what things?
If you remember, when Paul was in Athens he addressed many of the people, many of the leaders of Athens there on Mars Hill. When Paul finished speaking to them on Mars Hill, we are told that some of the people mocked him, they laughed at him. Some of the people he spoke to said they would listen to him later. Only a few accepted Christ. There were very few decisions for Christ made in Athens. Paul felt like he had messed up. He felt like a failure. Opposition didn’t frighten Paul; but indifference to his divine message, a lack of fruit and success, chilled his enthusiasm. I imagine that Paul went over the events of his visit in Athens; I imagine that he reviewed the speech he gave again and again, wondering what he could have done differently or what he could have done better to reach the people. Paul looked at the lack of decisions in the city he just left and he felt like a failure. Previous setbacks caused him to be discouraged and depressed.
I can tell you right now that Paul is not alone. Fully 1 out of 5 preachers in this country usually feel like failures, or feel like quitting on Monday morning, every week. Some preachers are discouraged by past events, wondering what they could have done differently, or what they could have done better. In a recent survey, 95% of preachers questioned reported being discouraged recently. We think back to the many preachers who left the ministry in the 80’s & 90’s due to moral or financial failure. I tell you, many more leave ministry because of discouragement.
There is no telling how many people there are in this country & others, who are depressed and discouraged by past events. They wonder what they could have done better to save their marriage. They beat themselves up daily; thinking “If only I had … perhaps things would have worked out.” How many children are there, who are depressed, wondering what they could have done to make their parents stay together, or wondering what they could have done to make their mom or dad love them more? How many older parents do you think there are who are depressed or discouraged, because of things they did or didn’t do with their children when they were growing up? Previous setbacks can cause you to be discouraged or depressed.
3. Present Surroundings – In Paul’s day, Corinth was the political capital of Greece & the seat of the Roman Proconsul. It occupied a strategic location, with harbors facing 2 seas. Sea routes & land routes converged on Corinth so that it was the chief market city between Asia & Italy.
Corinth was the Vanity Fair of the Roman Empire, famous for its sinful worship of Venus. Most seaports & large cities have their seamy sides, or their red-light districts, but Corinth outdid them all. The Temple of Venus alone housed 100,000 prostitutes. The city was so wicked that its name, Corinth, became a synonym for immorality.
Paul looked around him at a city filled with immorality, with thieves, with people who cared nothing about their souls or anything religious. He looked around him; at a city where people were totally enmeshed in the pursuit of prosperity & pleasure, and he was discouraged. He said, “Lord, there’s no way we’re going to make an impact here. Lord, these people simply don’t care. These people are so wrapped up in the nasty now & now, that they care nothing about the future. God, I don’t think we’re going to win this one.” He looked around at his present surroundings and he was discouraged.
Have you ever felt like that? You have visited your neighbor again and again; you have prayed for them, invited them to church, and witnessed to them, but they seem so wrapped up in their wealth and work that you seem to make no impact on them. You want to quit. You have prayed for that friend or family member for years, and yet she continues to make the same stupid mistake again and again. You look at the path our nation has chosen to take, and you say, “What’s the use? We’re never going to in this one.” You are discouraged and you want to quit. Your present surroundings have you discouraged.
Paul experienced that. He was depressed by personal solitude, past setbacks, and by his present surroundings. I believe pressing situations also discouraged him.
4. Pressing situations – In verse 3 we read that Paul wrought, or worked, at his trade of tent-making during the week, and then in verse 4 we read that he reasoned with the Jews in the synagogue every Sabbath day. Paul had 2 pressing situations. First he had the responsibility of making a living for himself, and second, he had the added burden of reasoning with the Jews every week. He was teaching and preaching in the Synagogue every Saturday. Paul was meeting himself coming and going. He was worn out.
Let me tell you, if you allow yourself to have too many pressing situations; if you end up with too many irons in the fire and don’t get enough sleep or lazy time where you can simply let your mind wander, it can cause you to be discouraged or depressed.
Several years ago, … personal account. …
Pressing situations can cause you to be discouraged or depressed.
Well, what then is the answer? How can you keep from falling into discouragement and depression? What can you do to get out, when you find yourself in that situation? I believe we see in the life of Paul, 3 biblical means to restart your motor, to repaint your tomorrow, and to rejuvenate your energy. Look with me again please, at verse 5.
- Read v 5
II. WAYS TO CLIMB OUT OF DISCOURAGEMENT
1. Hang out with godly encouragers – In verse 5 we read that when Silas and Timothy arrived, Paul was pressed in his spirit. He was rejuvenated and received a fresh vision and burden for the Corinthian people when he started hanging out with godly encouragers. Now Paul was already living and working with Aquila and Priscilla, but they were immature, new Christians at the time. When Timothy and Silas arrived, however, sure enough, on fire, excited Christians, he was encouraged again.
I don’t think you folks understand how encouraging you can be to other folks, simply by being there. I don’t think you realize how much you can encourage others and be encouraged yourself, just by your presence. Just ask your Sunday School teacher. Just ask your VBS teacher. Just ask a fellow church member. Ask them if it makes any difference to them, after they have studied and prepared during the week, if it makes any difference to them if you come to their class or not. Ask the folks who sit around you in church. Ask them if they are encouraged when you are here, when we have a full house.
Ask that family up the street, who just had someone die; if they find it encouraging just knowing you are there. Ask that shut in, unable to get out anymore, or that person who is temporarily sick or disabled, if they find your presence, your visit, encouraging.
Listen, you need to be selective about who you hang out with. There are basically three types of people. There are those who pull you down. Joy suckers. Nothing is ever right with them. It’s too hot, or too cold, or too something. They don’t have a life, so they will steal yours. They have no joy in their lives, so they get pleasure from stealing yours.
There are others, who are friends, that you feel kinda neutral when you are around them. They don’t always lift you up, but they don’t always pull you down either.
Then there are those that lift you up almost every time you are around them. They are walking with God and they encourage you, they lift you up, they give you hope. They bring joy into your life.
Now, we need to minister to the joy-suckers. We need to show them the love of Jesus and we need to show them that Jesus can make a difference in their lives, just as He has in ours. But you can’t hang out with those people all the time. They’ll suck the life out of you and leave you just as depressed, joyless and lifeless as they are. Get around some godly encouragers. Get around some soul-winners. Get around some people going and growing, walking and winning with God.
Save your place and turn with me to Ecclesiastes chapter 4 and verse 9
- Read Ecc. 4:9-12
My friends, if you want to prevent discouragement, and if you want to find your way out once you have fallen in, hang with godly encouragers. Not only did Paul hang with godly encouragers, but we find that Paul also began to take care of himself.
Look with me again please at verse 5.
- Read verse 5.
2. Take Care of Your Body
In verse 5 we find that Paul was joined in his work by Silas and Timothy. Those two Christian friends brought a gift, an offering with them, so that Paul no longer had to work so hard during the week, trying to support himself, while also teaching others on the weekend. He began to get a little rest. He began to take care of himself a little bit. He began to take care of his body.
Doctors will tell you, if you let yourself get out of shape, if you quit getting the rest you need, if you quit getting the exercise you need, if you quit pushing away from the table like you need to, then you will find your energy, strength, and motivation drained from you. If you run so much that you never allow yourself to get the rest, or the mental relaxation you need, then you will find yourself falling further and further behind.
Tell me, when are you most easily frustrated? When are you most likely to be discouraged or depressed? When do you find yourself most easily succumbing to temptation? It’s when you’re tired and worn out. The Devil knows that’s when you’re at your weakest, that’s why he chooses at attack at that time.
If you want to avoid or escape discouragement, take care of your body. Not only do you need to hang with godly encouragers, and not only do you need to take care of your body, but you also need to spend some time remembering. Look at verse 9 with me again please.
- Read vv 9&10
3. Spend Some Time Remembering
In these verses, God spoke to Paul in a vision. Because of the vision, Paul remembered three things.
a. God is with you – My friends, when you are going through times of discouragement, when it feels that you are alone, that no one cares or that no one understands, you need to remember that no matter where you are or what’s going on, that God is with you.
Do you remember Jesus’ promise, “I will never leave you nor forsake you”? Jesus makes that promise to each and every one of you. Christ is concerned with the whole, but at the same time He says, “I can see every man who is tugging and feeling himself discouraged.” Perhaps you are teaching a Sunday School class, or a department in the church, or there is a friend or family member you have a burden for. You have been working and praying and don’t intend to give up; but you feel that the wheels are barely turning. You feel that you are making no progress at all. My friends, Jesus says, “I am, with you. I care. I see every struggle, every labor you have. You are not alone.”
Sir, remember that God is with you. Remember also that God sees things you cannot see.
b. God sees things you cannot see – In verse 10 God told Paul, “I have much people in this city.” Did Paul see those folks? No. Did he know there were many people in that town that would accept Christ? No. When Paul looked around all he saw was defeat and frustration. All he saw were people who were so wrapped up in the world that they didn’t seem to care about spiritual things at all. But God said, “I have much people in this city.”
I know sometimes it seems that you are making no progress at all. You have such a burden for that person. You have such a burden for that neighbor. You have such hopes for this church. You have cried and prayed and done everything you know to do, and yet you see no progress. To you God says, “I have much people in this city. You may not see anything happening, you may not see that person changing at all, but I have much people in this city. I see things you cannot see.”
When you are discouraged, remember God is with you. Remember God sees things you cannot see, and remember that God does things you cannot do.
- Read vv 12 & 13, 17
c. God does things you cannot do – In verses 12 & 13 we find Paul being hauled, again, into court. The Jews were upset that Paul was preaching to the Gentiles and that he was having such success, when they were failing miserably at getting people to follow their religion. So they had Paul hauled into court. Paul didn’t even get a chance to open his mouth, before the judge, the area ruler, had the case thrown out of court. He had the Jews run out of the building.
The gentiles were so excited about finally having the snooty Jews shown the door, that they hauled the synagogue leader, the one who had Paul arrested in the first place, back before the judge and began to beat him. The judge didn’t lift a hand. He didn’t say a word. So, Paul was released, the ones who took him to court were run out of the building, and the one that started the mess in the first place was beaten. They never messed with Paul in that city again.
Is there any way Paul could have accomplished anything like that? No! The only One Who can do anything like that is God!
My friend, if you are discouraged, if you are depressed, you need to remember you are not alone. You need to remember that God sees things that you cannot see. You need to remember that God still does things you cannot do.
