1. Problems Christians Face
Worry & stress
Guilt
Failures
Doubt (personal and spiritual)
Depression
Weariness
Grief
Loneliness
Forgiveness
Addictions
Timidity
Mediocrity
Anger
Pride
Distractions
Compromise
Arrogance
Poor physical habits

2. Most of us face discouragement
Failures
Fleshly weaknesses
Rejection
Things break
Flawed people – family, friends and brethren
Unreceptive prospects
A broken society

3. Dealing with
Discouragement

4. Discouragement is not wrong
Elijah – 1 Kings 19:3-4
David throughout his life
Paul dealt with many things that could have discouraged him – 2 Corinthians 4:8-10, 1:8-9

5. Discouragement is not wrong
Jesus faced many occasions where He COULD HAVE been discouraged
John 6:67-71, “Do you also want to go away?”
Luke 9:41, “O faithless and perverse generation,…
Matthew 23:37-39, , “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets…”
Hebrews 5:7-9, 1 Peter 2:21-23, Hebrews 4:15

6. Discouragement is not wrong
Discouragement happens
But HOW you deal with it determines right or wrong. How we let it affect us is important.

7. Dealing with Discouragement
Face it!
Don’t deny your frustrations and struggles!
Rarely does denial work out – usually it hurts you and others
Change begins with acknowledgment

8. Dealing with Discouragement
Endure it
We need perseverance – cf. 2 Peter 1:6
Hebrews 10:32, 36-39
Romans 5:3-5
Hebrews 12:1-3 – Jesus endured (cf. 1 Pet. 2:23)

9. Dealing with Discouragement
Look beyond the moment
Sometimes we fail to consider the bigger picture
We need to step back and see everything
Jesus did John 4:35, 14:1-3
Joseph Genesis 50:20
Elijah 1 Kings 19:18
God is in control 1 John 4:4, 5:4, 1 Corinthians 10:13
2 Corinthians 4:17-18

10. Dealing with Discouragement
Keep busy
You still have work to do.
Productive work can help you move beyond the moment
Jesus kept busy - John 7:1, 9:4
Elijah given instructions – 1 Kings 19:15-16
Galatians 6:9
The prodigal didn’t stay in the pig sty – Luke 15:15-19

11. Dealing with Discouragement
Pray about it
Cast your cares on Him 1 Peter 5:7, Matthew 6:33-34
Philippians 4:6-7
Have your brethren pray for you James 5:16
Even Jesus prayed Luke 5:16, 6:12-13, etc.
James 1:5-6, 1 John 5:14-15

12. Dealing with Discouragement
Gratitude
Count your blessings. RARELY will you find your troubles outweigh your blessings!
Philippians 4:4-7
1 Thessalonians 5:17-18
Hebrews 10:34 – an enduring possession, 13:15
No matter what you are enduring, someone is dealing with something worse

13. rule over our emotions and attitudes rather than letting them rule us
Let us determine to
rule over our emotions and attitudes rather than letting them rule us