What To Do When You Get Discouraged

What to Do When You Get Discouraged

Philippians 4:4-7

Do you ever get down, depressed or discouraged? Being depressed or discouraged does not in itself make you a bad or a weak Christian. The great British Baptist preacher C.H. Spurgeon led scores to Christ through his powerful sermons. Yet he suffered numerous severe attacks of depression and discouragement where he would be unable to preach for weeks at a time. He often felt as if he had accomplished nothing in his life. He once lamented, “I have got the blackest heart in Britain.” Frequently he would go into his garden, raise his hands to God and cry, “Lord, I have never desired you more, yet my spirit has never been so low. Why is this happening?” When we do get discouraged we are tempted to quit, to throw in the proverbial towel, to give up. But the reality is that is exactly what the devil would have us do. When faced with discouragement or depression there are four steps we need to take when we get discouraged: pray, trust; commit and work.

I. Pray wholeheartedly to the Lord

A. When we are discouraged, many times we do not feel like praying. And when we do we pray foolishly charging God with being uncaring, aloof, or indifferent. But we need to still go to the throne of God and pour out our petition before Him.

B. Hebrews 4:16 “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

C. Dr. A. C. Dixon, a fundamental Baptist pastor, Bible expositor and evangelist who was popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries speaking upon this theme of prayer. Said this: "When we rely upon organization, we get what or­ganization can do, when we rely upon education, we get what education can do; when we reply upon eloquence, we get what eloquence can do; and so on. Nor am I disposed to undervalue any of these things in their proper place. "But," he added impressively, "when we rely upon prayer, we get what God can do."—The European Harvest Field.

D. Psalm 34:15 “The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.”

E. We need to realize that in order for God to hear and answer our prayer we must confess any sin and seek His will and glory first above all else.

F. Psalm 27:14 “Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.”

G. Isaiah 40:31

H. Waiting on Him is to persistently come before Him and listen for His voice and meditating on His word, hear His commands, and learn His will.

I. 1 John 5:14 “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he hears us.”

J. Why worry? – Illustration - David Jeremiah tells the story of a French soldier in World War I who carried into battle a prescription for worry: "Of two things, one is certain; either you are at the front, or you are behind the lines. If you are at the front, of two things one is certain; either you are exposed to danger, or you are in a safe place. If you are exposed to danger, of two things one is certain; either you are wounded, or you are not wounded. If you are wounded, of two things one is certain; either you recover, or you die. If you recover, there is no need to worry; if you die, you can't worry. – copied

K. Philippians 4:6 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” – Why worry when you can pray.

II. Trust fully in God’s Sovereignty

A. There is no attribute more comforting to His children than that of God’s sovereignty. Under the most adverse circumstances, in the most severe trials, they believe that sovereignty has ordained their afflictions; that sovereignty overrules them, and that sovereignty will sanctify them all. There is nothing for which the children ought to more earnestly contend to than the doctrine of their Master over all creation—the Kingship of God over all the works of His own hands—the Throne of God and His right to sit upon that throne...for it is God upon the Throne whom we trust. - C. H. Spurgeon

B. Romans 8:28 “we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

C. Philippians 2:13 “it is God which works in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”