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How to Overcome Discouragement

…But of Israel he says, “All day long I have held out my hands to disobedient and contrary people.” I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he appeals to God against Israel? l“ Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life.” But what is God’s reply to him? “I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace. But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace. ROMANS 10:21,11:1-6 ESV

I can overcome discouragement when…

I start expecting more from God and less from people

But of Israel he says, “All day long I have held out my hands to disobedient and contrary people.” I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means!  For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. ROMANS 10:21,11:1-2 ESV 

I identify where my discouragement comes from

My unrealistic expectations

But now trouble comes to you, and you are discouraged; it strikes you, and you are dismayed. JOB 4:5 TNIV 

My personal enemy, the devil

Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. EPHESIANS 6:11-12 NLT

My poor choices

My surroundings

Then the peoples around them set out to discourage the people of Judah and make them afraid to go on building. EZRA 4:4 TNIV

I change what I am paying attention to

…Do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he appeals to God against Israel? “Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life.” But what is God’s reply to him? “I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” ROMANS 11:2-4 ESV

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. PHILIPPIANS 4:8 ESV

Invite others to encourage me

Lord, they have killed your prophets…I alone am left. ROMANS 11:3 ESV

Invite God into your life

The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. DEUTERONOMY 31:8 TNIV

For “Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.” ROMANS 10:13 NLT

Invite God’s people into your life

…at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace. ROMANS 11:5 ESV

Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another. HEBREWS 10:25 NIV

I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong—that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith. ROMANS 1:11-12 TNIV

Therefore encourage one another with these words. 1 THESSALONIANS 4:18 TNIV

My Notes

Personal Reflection Guide

Take a moment to put your heart in a position of gratitude. Begin by thanking God for the blessings in your life. As you name the things in your life God has blessed you with, pay attention to areas where you are normally discouraged or feel God may be missing, and ask God to reveal ways in which your expectations, choices, surroundings and the enemy have played a role in your discouragement. Invite God into those areas. Ask him to help guide you in setting expectations of yourself and others. Ask him to help you make choices about who and what you surround yourself with. Finally, ask him to reveal areas where the enemy has been influencing your thoughts and actions more than God. Thank God for his constant presence and ask him to draw near to you when you find yourself discouraged. Consider the people in your life who could point you toward God and his word when you feel discouraged and make a plan for inviting them in. Close your time with prayer, thanking God for his goodness toward you and asking him to help you be attentive to his work and his goodness as you go through your week.

Discussion Questions

  1. What have you been learning about yourself, God or others in your personal Bible reading time? What stood out to you this week?
  2. When has discouragement and/or depression reared its ugly head in your life and (on a scale of 1-10) what is your current level of discouragement and why?
  3. Read Ephesians 6:11-12. When you think about the root causes of discouragement (unrealistic expectations, poor choices, surroundings and the devil) which has the largest impact on you and what do you need to do about it?
  4. Read Philippians 4:8. In what practical ways do you think changing what you focus on might change how much discouragement you feel?
  5. Read Deuteronomy 31:8. What is one thing you can do this week to connect more meaningfully with God and how can we help?
  6. Read Hebrews 10:25. What is one thing you can do this week to connect more meaningfully with God’s people and how can we help?