We live in a world that is not the way God intended it to be when He created it. When sin entered His perfect creation, all of it was subject to its fruit. Let’s face it, discouragement is not from God, but it is one of Satan’s tools that gives us a feeling of hopelessness.
We live in a world that is not the way God intended it to be when He created it.
The psalmist David experienced discouragement during his life and openly wrote about it to encourage us. Consider the beginning of Psalm 13, where David cries,
How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul, Having sorrow in my heart all the day? (vv. 1-2)
Certainly, we have all felt like this from time to time. When the pressures of daily life mount up and we see no way to relieve that pressure, we might think that the Lord, as the song goes, “caught the last train for the coast.”
But, David has a lot more to offer than heartfelt lament. His writings always conclude with a confession that God is the One who supplies all of his needs—even when disappointed.
But I have trusted in Your loving kindness; My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, Because He has dealt bountifully with me. (vv. 5-6)
Jesus has broken the chains of disappointment and freed us from the grips of Satan.
The God who is sovereign over all of creation and loves us can provide hope to our hearts when we ask for help. If you are feeling discouraged, pray for God in confidence to remove those feelings and begin to praise Him for His love and care. Jesus has broken the chains of disappointment and freed us from the grips of Satan.
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Everybody needs someone to help them navigate through their life. Timothy had the best of mentors in the apostle Paul, who wrote two letters to encourage him in his life and ministry. During his missionary journeys, Paul had left Timothy behind in Ephesus so that he could grow the ministry that...
