We have all been discouraged at one time or another and it feels as though no one knows or really cares about our disappointments or failures. Frustrated at our circumstances, we feel as though no matter how hard we tried, our good was not good enough. Some of us can take a lot of failure before discouragement sets in, while others get discouraged before attempting anything new, or trying what we view as failure again. Discouragement can open the door to deep depression. When we are discouraged we have two options. The first one is to learn from our mistakes and approach the problem differently. The second is to just give up and be bitter or depressed and have that nagging question that will haunt us "what if."

 

How do we handle our discouragement? The first thing you must realize is, the feelings you have are nothing new to this world. Someone else has had the exact same discouragement from whatever caused yours. You may not know them personally but there was someone at some time with the same feelings from the same situation you face. The second thing is to know that you are in good company. Many great men of this world have faced discouragement. What made them great is what they did with their failure and feelings of discouragement. The third thing you must understand is that you are not God and He is still in control. We tend to create a "mad giant dog" out of our discouragement and the problem that created it, when in reality it is just a little puppy growling, trying to bluff us. For example, when someone tells you of their feelings of disappointment and  discouragement, we tend to see the obvious solution and wonder why they cannot see the solution to it also. We tend to tell them to just "buck up" it will get better. All they hear is blah, blah, blah. All they see is that mad, giant dog.  They want someone to slay it, not just tell them to ignore it and it will go away.

 

Mighty Men of God Faced Discouragement:

 

1. Moses faced many discouragements because of the stubbornness of the people he was leading.
2. Elijah the prophet, the one who called fire down from heaven and caused a drought, ran from Jezebel into the desert because she swore to kill him.
3. King David got discouraged many times throughout his life and he cried out throughout the Psalms expressing the despair he felt in various situations.
4. John the Baptist got discouraged when he was in jail and even asked his disciples to ask Jesus if He was the Promised One. Yet, John had told his disciples, when he was baptizing people in the Jordan river, "Behold the Lamb of God."
5. Job loved God and worshipped only Him. Yet Job lost everything, his health, home, possessions, children and even his peace of mind. His ‘friends’ even came by to "help him out of his discouragement." (With friends like those who needs enemies?)

 

I could go on and on about mighty men of God that got discouraged. If we are honest, we all have faced discouragement at one time or another. Very successful men of wealth and stature that we would not think of as ever having faced failure and deep discouragement. People like:

 

1. Henry Ford for example, his early businesses failed and left him broke five times before he founded the successful Ford Motor Company.
2. R. H. Macy the founder of the department store "Macys" started seven businesses that failed before finally hitting it big with his store in New York City.
3.F. W. Woolworth the founder of Woolworth’s department stores. Woolworth worked at a dry goods store and was not allowed to wait on customers because his boss said he lacked the sense needed to do so.
4. Harland David Sanders the founder of "Kentucky Fried Chicken." His famous secret chicken recipe was rejected 1,009 times before a restaurant accepted it.
5. Walt Disney was  fired by a newspaper editor because, "he lacked imagination and had no good ideas." Disney started a number of businesses that didn't last too long and ended with bankruptcy and failure.
6. Albert Einstein was deemed mentally handicapped, slow and anti-social. Einstein did not speak until he was four and did not read until he was seven. He was even expelled from school.
7. Thomas Edison while in school was told  he was "too stupid to learn anything." Work was no better, he was fired from his first two jobs for not being productive enough. Even as an inventor, Edison made 1,000 unsuccessful attempts at inventing the light bulb.
8. Babe Ruth for decades held the record for strikeouts 1,330 in all. When asked about this he simply said, "Every strike brings me closer to the next home run."
 9. Tom Landry as the coach of the Dallas Cowboys has the distinction of having one of the worst first seasons on record (winning no games) and winning five or fewer over the next four seasons.
10. J.C. Penney the founder of "J.C. Penney Department Stores" failed several times in business and was bankrupt. He even was hospitalized for depression.

 

Frustration and discouragement come from one source: unmeet expectations. How do we overcome these feelings of despair, frustration and of failure. While we all want a "microwavable" solution, a quick fix and victory , our discouragement took time to build and so will our victory over it. Have you ever heard the phrase "Anything worth having is worth waiting for?" Maybe you have heard, "Those who are afraid of failure are afraid to succeed?"  Not everything we set out to accomplish will end in victory for us. No matter how hard we want it or prepare for it. King David wanted more than anything to build God’s temple but God told him no because "thou art a bloody man." David could have pouted and gotten all depressed about it and even tried to build it on his own. However, David trusted God and knew that anything he would do, without God’s approval, would end in failure no matter how hard he tried. There are some things to consider when we are discouraged.

 

1. Ask God if what we want to do is in His plans for us. No matter how hard we want something, we must trust God to know what is best for us. Until we are honest and submit to God with a willing heart we will be beating the air with fists.
 
2. Do not try to achieve a goal that others believe is a success. Our value and happiness is not dependent on what others have achieved, it is based on what we are called to do in God’s mighty plan for our lives. For instance, I know personally somebody whose father was a pastor of a rather large church. The pastor’s brother was a missionary and his cousins were involved in either missions or pastorate work. My friend believed he had to follow in the "family tradition" and wanted to make his family proud because everyone in his family expected him to be in the ministry. He went to school and seminary, but did not fair so well in the ministry. His preaching had all the right words but there was no authority or a sense that he was passionate about the subject. He could not find a church who would call him as their pastor. Eventually he left the ministry and tried to find other work in factories, stores etc. He was miserable, felt like a total failure and wondered why God was doing this to him. After a long talk with his dad, he realized he was trying to fit into other peoples idea of success for him. He also found out that no one in his family was disappointed that he wasn’t a pastor of a huge congregation.  Most of all, he realized that he was not called to preach. God wanted him elsewhere. My friend found his calling after this, God opened the door for him to be a Christian counselor and now he has a very large practice.

 

3. Are we learning from past mistakes? If we keep doing the same thing over and over we will get the same results. After you have prayed and are sure God wants you to do a certain thing, study all you can on the subject. Talk with others who have done the same thing and find out about the pit falls. If you fail, you have learned what doesn’t work. Don’t repeat the same thing over. Be prepared to face trials on your quest because you learn and grow. If God is in it, you’re going to win.

 

4. Avoid rash decisions. When Elijah heard of Jezebel’s threats, his first response was to run away his fears. He took his eyes off of God. When most of us go through difficult times, it’s very easy to make rash decisions.

 

5. Do not make permanent decisions based on a temporary set back. Many vows are made when people are discouraged, which in retrospect have seemed unwise. No matter if it’s dealing with family, moral failure, spiritual matters or money problems the actions you take or the words you speak will have lasting consequences.

 

When we are discouraged, the worst thing we can do is lay down and give up. Look how many times the Apostle Peter got rebuked by Jesus. When we hear the name of Peter it brings to mind the Apostle who denied Jesus. How would you like to have that distinction? In a moment of panic and fear he failed. Yet the others fled the Garden and Peter stood by Jesus ready to fight and Jesus rebuked him and told him to put away his sword. Yes, Peter failed. Do you think he got discouraged? When Christ arose from the tomb Jesus said ‘go and tell Peter I have arisen.’ Christ loved Him and even made him head of the Apostles. Why? Peter would do something, even if it was wrong. God can use a runaway train, not a speed bump. Christ can steer you like He did Peter to do what He wants of you, but if you lay down you, become ineffective for God’s purpose in your life. The whole point is, Peter did not go "willie nillie" and would not listen to Christ. He wanted to please Christ, even though Peter made some bad choices, he did not give up.

 

What  is the secret to get going again? How do we know where to start? How do we know for sure what we are after is God’s will? How do we get over the feelings and thoughts that keep us in despair and hopelessness and get going again? These are the questions that are all answered in God’s Word. We will look at these things next time.

 

Success is doing what God intended for you to do, not by what you have or have not. You can be rich, healthy and have a beautiful family and still be discouraged. Many "successful" people have committed suicide because of being unhappy and discouraged.