Secret to Defeating Discouragement

Exodus 6:9 NLT

9 So Moses told the people of Israel what the Lord had said, but they refused to listen anymore. They had become too discouraged by the brutality of their slavery.

We are in the 3rd week of lockdown, 4th week of social distancing, and it looks like it will last a while. I know that a lot of people are becoming discouraged.

Discouragement can be debilitating. It causes people to give up… stop caring… and to quit hoping.

Exodus 6:9 NLT

9 So Moses told the people of Israel what the Lord had said, but they refused to listen anymore. They had become too discouraged by the brutality of their slavery.

Psalm 42:5 NLT

5 Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again— my Savior and

Anytime you become discouraged, you need to change your thoughts and focus.

Paul had a lot of reason to be discouraged… look at this...

2 Corinthians 11:23–28 NLT

23 Are they servants of Christ? I know I sound like a madman, but I have served him far more! I have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again. 24 Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. 26 I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not. 27 I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm. 28 Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches.

2 CO

If anyone ever had a reason to be discouraged it was Paul.

Paul’s 8 Secrets of Defeating Discouragement ()

1. Always remember how much God loves you!

The fact that God loves you more than you can even imagine is what you need to focus on.

Everything flows out of God’s Love, Mercy and Grace.

You know God loves you, but do you feel it? In times like we are in, sometimes we don’t feel like he cares.

2 Corinthians 4:1 GNB

1 God in his mercy has given us this work to do, and so we are not discouraged.

What is mercy? It’s the fact that God knows every mistake I have made and will make and he still loves me.

Mercy: Not getting what I deserve

Paul focused on God’s mercy, Grace and love. That kept Paul going and it will keep us going through this difficult time.

Discouragement means you’ve stopped feeling how much God loves you.

One of the problems is we think that God only hangs around so he can criticize us. They think God only speaks in a critical voice. they will say stuff like God convicted me… Listen God does convict of sin, but he also say good things to us. He lets us know how much he loves us… when he is pleased with something we do...

Remember, you were created to be loved by God! That’s actually the only reason you are alive… God wanted to love you.

Your #1 job is to Let God love you!

There are several benefits of focusing on how much God loves you instead of all the what if’s.

1 - You will break free of trying to earn God’s favor.

2 - You will stop feeling shame over your failures. Stop wallowing in guilt.

3 - You will not go crazy during this time of Quarantine.

2. Don’t fake it.

Nothing is more discouraging than trying to be something or someone you are not. He wants you to be Genuine… to keep it real. That doesn’t mean that we don’t change. Once you become a Follower of Jesus, he begins a renovation project on you and begins to change you. People say that this is just the way I am… not so. God is always changing and molding us.

God did not create you to be someone else. He created you, with all of your personality to love him, to serve him, to be loved by him and to live eternally with him.

God blesses genuine people. He doesn’t bless fakes.

2 Corinthians 4:2 NCV

2 But we have turned away from secret and shameful ways. We use no trickery, and we do not change the teaching of God. We teach the truth plainly, showing everyone who we are. Then they can know in their hearts what kind of people we are in God’s sight.

Paul was modeling following Christ to everyone. He did not claim to be perfect. Far from it, he constantly talked about his weaknesses and how in his weakness Christ strength came through. Paul did not try to hide things.

2 CO

Trusting God doesn’t mean that you don’t take precautions for your safety and for your family. It doesn’t mean that you may not know how it’s going to turn out alright… you just trust him that it will.

You don’t have to be perfect, just Genuine

Listen, I am a flawed person. if God can use me, he can certainly use you.

The thing that keeps you from being genuine… from being real is FEAR.

The cure for fear is remembering how much God loves you

This will allow you to be genuine, because you live and play for an audience of 1

3. Remember, it’s not about you!

The more self-focused you are, the more discouraged you will be. When you look at yourself and what you wish you had or had not done, you become more prone to discouragement.

When you forget that its’ not about you, you will either become prideful, or fearful. When things go great for you, remember, it’s not about you. When something bad happens, it’s not about you...

2 Corinthians 4:5 GW

5 Our message is not about ourselves. It is about Jesus Christ as the Lord. We are your servants for his sake.

God has given each of us a unique message for you to share with others… a unique way he has helped you through difficulties in your life, but it’s not about you, it’s about HIM. Your life’s message is about Him not You.

2 CO

This is counter cultural to our culture today. Our culture says it’s all about me. You can see this in the people who are still gathering together in large groups.

Paul said he was a servant for Jesus sake… That’s talking about motivation for what we do. Make sure you are doing whatever you are doing … you are doing it for the right reasons. God is interested in the why we are doing stuff as much as he is what we are doing.

4. Relax in your limitations

If you try to be superman/woman, you will be discouraged, because none of us are superhuman. We all need to have a realistic view of our limitations and the warning signs of trying to be superman…

2 Corinthians 4:7 CEV

7 We are like clay jars in which this treasure is stored. The real power comes from God and not from us.

God says we, in our own strength, are like clay jars. Our power comes from God.

2 CO

God often puts some of his greatest gifts in the weakest people That way his power shines through. God has always used flawed people… Peter… all the disciples.

Attitudes toward out weaknesses.

Unaware -

Denial -

Hide -

Rationalize -

Accept -

Allow God to use -

We are all flawed, but God still uses us.

5. Use your pain to help others.

Paul went through a lot of pain. remember the list in 2 CO 11?

2 Corinthians 4:8–9 CEV

8 We often suffer, but we are never crushed. Even when we don’t know what to do, we never give up. 9 In times of trouble, God is with us, and when we are knocked down, we get up again.

2 CO

2 CO

If you asked Paul why he put up with all he went through, here is what he would say…

2 Corinthians 4:15 The Living Bible

15 These sufferings of ours are for your benefit. And the more of you who are won to Christ, the more there are to thank him for his great kindness, and the more the Lord is glorified.

Paul says I keep going because it’s good for you that I do.

Don’t waste a hurt. You have each been through things that God has brought you through and now you can help someone else go through it. Cancer Survivor… heart attack… Corona .... lost job … divorce...

Why do we keep sharing about Jesus? because so many people need to hope, the healing, the forgiveness, the restoration, the power he gives when you turn to him.

6. Take time for renewal.

You have to refill you tank.

2 Corinthians 4:16 NLT

16 That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day.

You have to renew your spirit every day.

You may not be able to stop aging on the outside, but you can stop decay in the inside. You can stay fresh on the inside.

7. Stay focused on eternity

We must maintain an eternal perspective to avoid discouragement. Don’t live for the here and now. Our eternal home, where we will spend way more time, is in heaven… not here.

When we get tired, and many are tried right now from worry, from Quarantine, from sickness… When we get tired we cal lose our perspective and become discouraged.

Paul -

2 Corinthians 4:17–18 NLT

17 For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! 18 So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.

3 motivations...

This is how Jesus endured the cross.

Hebrews 12:2 GNB

2 Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from beginning to end. He did not give up because of the cross! On the contrary, because of the joy that was waiting for him, he thought nothing of the disgrace of dying on the cross, and he is now seated at the right-hand side of God’s throne.

Only he who sees the invisible can accomplish the impossible. Corrie Ten boom

One last secret…

8. Keep doing the right things…

Galatians 6:9 The Living Bible

9 And let us not get tired of doing what is right, for after a while we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t get discouraged and give up.

What are those right thing?

QT daily - First 15… Worship, Read, Pray

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