Discouragement

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The experience of discouragement

Job 3:20–26 ESV

“Why is light given to him who is in misery, and life to the bitter in soul, who long for death, but it comes not, and dig for it more than for hidden treasures, who rejoice exceedingly and are glad when they find the grave? Why is light given to a man whose way is hidden, whom God has hedged in? For my sighing comes instead of my bread, and my groanings are poured out like water. For the thing that I fear comes upon me, and what I dread befalls me. I am not at ease, nor am I quiet; I have no rest, but trouble comes.”

See also the Israelites in the desert; the Canaanites and Rahab; the Israelites and Goliath; God’s judgment on Sennacherib; ; ; Wisdom speaks to the sinner; the Teacher’s disillusion; ; to Baruch; God’s judgment on Israel; ; Paul

Prayer in discouragement

Psalm 42:5–11 ESV

Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God. My soul is cast down within me; therefore I remember you from the land of Jordan and of Hermon, from Mount Mizar. Deep calls to deep at the roar of your waterfalls; all your breakers and your waves have gone over me. By day the Lord commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life. I say to God, my rock: “Why have you forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?” As with a deadly wound in my bones, my adversaries taunt me, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?” Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.

See also ; David; Jehoshaphat; ; ; Hezekiah; ;

Endurance in discouragement

Isaiah 42:3–4 ESV

a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. He will not grow faint or be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his law.

See also Paul; ; ; ; concerning the church at Ephesus

Discouragement through disobedience

Jeremiah 8:9 ESV

The wise men shall be put to shame; they shall be dismayed and taken; behold, they have rejected the word of the Lord, so what wisdom is in them?

See also ; Eliphaz to Job;

Discouragement and discipline

Hebrews 12:5–7 ESV

And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?

See also ;

Effects of discouragement

Proverbs 17:22 ESV

A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

See also the Israelites in Egypt; ; the rebuilding of the temple; ; ;

Resisting discouragement

Deuteronomy 1:21 ESV

See, the Lord your God has set the land before you. Go up, take possession, as the Lord, the God of your fathers, has told you. Do not fear or be dismayed.’

See also ; ; David reassuring Saul about Goliath; David to Solomon; Hezekiah; ; ; ; ; ;

God’s help in discouragement

Romans 8:35–39 ESV

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

See also ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; Paul

Warnings not to discourage others

The Israelites discouraged when on the point of entering the promised land

Obadiah 12 ESV

But do not gloat over the day of your brother in the day of his misfortune; do not rejoice over the people of Judah in the day of their ruin; do not boast in the day of distress.

See also by the spies; by the Gadites and Reubenites

General warnings not to discourage others

; ; James advises against discouraging the Gentiles;

The need to stand with the discouraged

Hebrews 13:3 ESV

Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body.

See also ; ; ;