Dealing with Discouragement

Most of us become discouraged at times People let us down Rejection of the gospel Frustration and anxiety Lack of progress Criticism Failures

Did Jesus Become Discouraged? A debated question Isaiah 53:3, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. Isaiah 42:4, “…He will not fail nor be discouraged, Till He has established justice in the earth; And the coastlands shall wait for His law.”” Discouraged in this text means “crushed, broken”

Did Jesus Become Discouraged? Jesus faced many occasions where He COULD HAVE been discouraged John 6:67, “Do you also want to go away?” Luke 9:41, , “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you and bear with you?” Mark 14:34, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death…”

Did Jesus Become Discouraged? Jesus faced many occasions where He COULD HAVE been discouraged The arguing and weak faith of His apostles Everything He endured around the cross Matthew 23:37-39, , “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets…”

Did Jesus Become Discouraged? Discouragement happens But HOW you deal with it determines right or wrong. How we let it affect us is important. Hebrews 12:3 Whether or not Jesus become discouraged, we can learn from Him how to deal with discouragement and/or how to avoid it! (The answer to both is the same)

Jesus and Discouragement He never gave up He endured. 1 Pet. 2:21-23, Luke 2:49, John 9:4 John 17:4, “I have finished the work…” John 19:30, “It is finished”

Jesus and Discouragement We must never give up Galatians 6:9 Hebrews 10:36 Matthew 10:22 Romans 2:7, “patient continuance in doing good…” James 5:7-8

Jesus and Discouragement He taught us to take a wider view John 4:35 John 14:1-3 We need to remember the “bigger picture” Genesis 50:20 1 Kings 19:18, Elijah was not alone 2 Timothy 4:17 God is in control – 1 John 4:4, 5:4

Jesus and Discouragement He kept busy Acts 10:38 Luke 4:43, Matt. 10:11-15 John 9:4 Keeping busy can keep us from dwelling on failures, etc. We have plenty to do. Don’t stay in the pig pen – cf. Luke 15:15-19

Jesus and Discouragement He associated with the godly Prov. 27:17 John 6:67, note Peter’s answer. Cf. Luke 22:43 We need each other 2 Corinthians 7:6 – Paul comforted Hebrews 12:12-13, 1 Thess. 5:14 Hebrews 10:24-25

Jesus and Discouragement He prayed Often – Mark 1:35, Matt. 14:23, Luke 5:16, 6:12 Luke 18:1, “Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart,” We need prayer 1 Thess. 5:17, Heb. 4:16, Philippians 4:6-7

rule over our emotions rather than letting them rule us Let us determine to rule over our emotions rather than letting them rule us