DEALING WITH PRAYER DISCOURAGEMENT

Discouragement has been termed "a killer disease." It is one of the most effective weapons in Satan's arsenal, and is widely utilized against believers, particularly in the matter of prayer. Our archenemy has numerous reasons for seeking to propel this poisonous dart into the believer's prayer life.

Satan knows that while everything done for God is not done necessarily by prayer alone, nothing ever done successfully for God is ever accomplished without prayer. He also knows that the "effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much" (James 5:16) and thus hinders his diabolical purposes.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon, the famed British Baptist preacher of the 19th century, once stated that when the believer prays, he enters the "treasure house of God and enriches himself out of an inexhaustible storehouse of riches." It should not be a surprise, then, that Satan opposes our efforts in prayer by seeking to cause discouragement in this vital ministry.

In Luke 18, Christ uttered a parable for the purpose of instructing His disciples that they "ought always to pray and not to faint" (v. l). The word "always" is elsewhere translated "ever" in the N. T. and means "at all times." The really interesting thing I read in the Strongs concordance was that it also means = every when.

Three Potential Divine Responses to our Prayers

God's response to our prayers has been summarized with the three statements: "Yes," "No," and "Wait Awhile." In our petitions, God sometimes provides an immediate answer to exactly what we request. The Scripture records many illustrations of answers to prayer, but God does not respond every time with a clear "Yes."

I. THE REASONS FOR DISCOURAGEMENT IN PRAYER

A. Disappointment

in God's reply may be one cause of discouragement

God's response sometimes does not immediately concur with our expectations. We pray fervently, but things just do not turn out the way we planned. God's answer may be a frank "No," rather than a pleasant "Yes."

If sin, our not being dedicated, or simply not trusting the Lord. At other times, our heart may be right but our spiritual thinking may be flawed. A divine "Yes" would not be in our best long range interests. In the disappointments that come through the denials in prayer, we need to recognize the providential hand of God, claiming the promises of Rom. 8:28.

We may discover that while God denies our immediate request, He may, at just the right time, ultimately fulfill our heart's desire. In discouragement of soul, the prophet Elijah pleaded with God to take him out of this world (I Kings 19). God denied his request, but later fulfilled his desire in a far more glorious manner—ascension in a heavenly chariot, apart from death!

While denying the request of the Apostle Paul for the removal of his "thorn in the flesh" (II Cor. 12:7-10). God honored his desire to magnify Christ in his body (Philippians 1:20). The Holy Spirit not only secures our salvation and sanctifies our spirit, He also "sifts" through our prayers of infirmity, and brings just the right ones to the Father (Rom. 8:26-28). God's Spirit knows best, and we must accept His telling us no with thanksgiving

B. Delay

We pray, and then pray some more, but there is no apparent divine response—only silence from the heavenly throne. God seems to hide His face, and all our pleas appear to be in vain. Like the prophet Habakkuk, we need to learn that God's clock does not operate by our human schedule.

C. Doubt

Hebrews 11:6 AV

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

makes it plain that faith is an indispensable element when approaching the throne of grace. James declares that the believer who asks, but refuses to trust while petitioning God, is a double-minded man who will receive nothing from the Lord.

II. THE RESULTS OF DISCOURAGEMENT IN PRAYER

Discouragement in prayer results in several negative consequences,

A. Spiritual anemia in our prayer efforts

Growing weary ("faint") in our petitions, our pleas may become half-hearted, routine, and formal, or may even stop altogether. According to Scripture, believers can grow weary, not only in spiritual service, but also in prayer.

B. Self-pity

This defeating self-pity must be distinguished from God's pity on us, which is beneficial and productive.

What we consider to be pleading petitions may be nothing more than "pity" parties. Whining should never be confused with weeping, and griping must not be equated with groaning!

Job 3:3 AV

Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night in which it was said, There is a man child conceived.

Dr. John McCormick, a noted Fundamentalist Bible teacher (now with the Lord), once declared that "self pity is weeping on the devil's shoulders."

C. Bitterness

Christians can allow their discouragements in prayer to become so devastating that they result in severe bitterness, blaming both God and man for lack of response. When denied his request, Esau developed a bitter and angry spirit (Heb. 12:15-16). It has been well stated that the only difference between "bitter" and "better" is the letter "I."

III. THE BIBLICAL REMEDY FOR DISCOURAGEMENT IN PRAYER

There is, however, a remedy for this discouragement. In the parable of the unjust judge and the persistent widow (Luke 19:1-9), Christ provided, by way of contrast, a practical illustration of how we can overcome our discouragement in prayer. In this parable, God is contrasted with an unjust and unconcerned magistrate who responded affirmatively, but without compassion, and only after the widow's shameless and persistent pleas. The unjust judge granted the woman's request only because she continued to trouble him with her incessant cries.

A. The Contrast of the Unjust Judge with a Compassionate God

(a) ungodly–he “feared not God”; (b) unjust–“neither regarded man”; and (c) unconcerned–Luke 18:5. He turned a deaf ear toward this woman’s initial cries and pleas. He granted her request only/finally because she kept troubling (“troubleth”) him with her persistent calls. He did not desire to be constantly besieged with her constant requests.

In Contrast, however, never wearies with our coming. We have a timeless invitation, with no strings attached. God urges us to give him no rest with our sincere pleas (Isaiah 43:26, Isaiah 62:6-7).

God welcomes our pleas and never wearies of our coming. With no strings attached, the child of God has a timeless invitation to come before the throne of grace (Heb. 4:16). God urges the saints to give no rest with regard to our sincere pleas (Isaiah 43:26, 62:6-7).

B. The believer can also be contrasted with the importunate widow in several ways

1. This persistent widow had no federal (official) ties with the judge.

Furthermore, she knew no one who was acquainted with the judge enough well enough to influence him in her favor. This is unlike the Christian, who has the divine lawyer, Jesus Christ, to intercede on his behalf, since He knows the ruling Sovereign of the universe (I John 2:1, Heb. 7:24-25).

2. This desolate widow also had no family tie

(no blood or legal family ties);

3. no friendship ties

(not acquainted with the judge;

4. no financial ties

(no resources from which to draw), and

5. no future ties

(no dealings with the judge after this encounter).

What a contrast to the believer who possesses families ties (John 1:12), friendship ties (Prov. 18:24), financial ties (Eph. 3:8) and future ties (II Tim. 1:12) with the Judge of all the earth.

IV. Will God find us faithful

Luke 18:8 AV

I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

D. L. Moody once said, "When its hardest to pray, then pray the hardest." While the Scripture warns against vain repetition, we must remember that earnest repetition is not vain repetition. The right answer from Heaven will come—never too late, since God is always on time. We can be assured that God's ultimate response will be in our best interest, and that it will be a perfect response; a response consistent with our Lord's perfect character, will and love.

With all these blessings, there is no just reason for fainting in prayer.

2 Corinthians 2:14 AV

Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.

Romans 8:37 AV

Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

This promise includes victory over discouragement in prayer. In Christ, we are "more than conquerors" (Rom. 8:37), including this vital area of prayer

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