Discouragement
By Pastor Mark Tossell
Psalms 143:3-7 “For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead. Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate. I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands. I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah. Hear me speedily, O Lord: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit.”
As of July this year, I have been saved for a quarter of a century. I have been in full-time ministry for thirteen years, and have been a pastor for close to eleven years. Upon observing churches and Christians both here and overseas, and after discussing the state of things with other pastors and missionaries, I have come to a conclusion: never have I known so many Christians and ministers that are going through severe and prolonged discouragement. It is like a dreadful, depressing and debilitating epidemic that is choking the spiritual life and vigour out of our homes, churches and ministries.
Before I get accused of being harsh or judgmental, allow me to make a candid admission: this year I faced the darkest months that I have ever faced. Discouragement does not even begin to describe the emotional and mental agony that I endured; it was more like a dark sea of despair that enveloped my weary soul and threatened to drown me in its dreadful misery. Truly I could say with David, “Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate.”
As I began to slowly rise out of this “slough of despond,” I asked myself some serious questions about this melancholic malady.
1. What is discouragement?
Simply put, discouragement is a profound and prolonged lack of courage.
A Bible synonym for discouragement or depression is the term “heaviness.” Study this word and you will find that it has a variety of meanings: a troubled heart; despair; being ready to faint; extreme negativity; the state of being overwhelmed; hopelessness; fear; confusion; self-condemnation; loneliness; etc. You get the idea: not a happy state of affairs!
Let me give you my definition of discouragement. “Discouragement is a state of mental and emotional weakness that results in negativity, fear and hopelessness.”
As an object lesson, consider the fiery prophet, Elijah. After the supernatural victory on Mount Carmel, Elijah ran from the wrath of the devious despot, Jezebel, and found himself moping under the infamous juniper tree. “But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.” (1 Kings 19:4) This hero of the faith – no one could accuse him of being timid, weak or soft – was so despondent and depressed that he asked God to kill him. This refutes the theory that only the weak and frail suffer from the occasional cloudy disposition! Surely we are reminded again that the best of men are men at best.
Would you like more examples of spiritual giants who cowered like children at the onset of discouragement? How about the giant-killer, David, who was almost defeated by his own unseen giants of despair and hopelessness? Or what about Moses, who stood boldly before Pharaoh, yet asked God to kill him rather than continue to lead the whinging and discontent Israelites? The Good Book is filled with the stories of good men and women that endured the test of soul heaviness.
Friend, are you discouraged? Do you find your faith and vision failing? Are you overwhelmed by inadequacy and insufficiency? Are you weary and overcome by the foes that assail you? Are the burdens pressing down so hard that you fear you shall fall, never to rise again? Are you seriously considering turning back? Do you dread the coming of the dawn and it’s fresh challenges? If you are not discouraged, please do not judge us brethren who suffer so from time to time. If you are under such a cloud, then read on!
2. Why do we become discouraged?
There is a plethora of reasons why we might feel distraught, discouraged, and depressed. Examples include:
- Failure
- Criticism
- Sickness
- Poverty
- Betrayal
- Disappointment
- Loneliness
- Pressure
- Doubt
- Self-condemnation
- Guilt
- Regret
In November of 1999, we planted Lighthouse Baptist Church in Sydney’s eastern suburbs. Starting a church from scratch is certainly not the easiest thing in the world. So many times my wife and I faced the demon of discouragement. There were the Sunday and Wednesday evenings when the church was ready, the message prepared, but no one came. No one! After two years of working 70-90 hours a week, knocking on tens of thousands of doors, and praying with fasting, we had a “small” crowd of twenty or so people. I blamed myself. I questioned God’s call and leading. I grew weary in the work. I seriously considered packing our bags and moving to a more fruitful area. My heart was heavy and my spirit was almost broken. My hope and vision for God’s work almost disappeared. I then began to understand why so many good men have left churches or quit the ministry because of discouragement.
There is also that strange beast that is unreasonable discouragement – the dark cloud of despondency with no obvious cause.
David was a man after God’s own heart. He knew the voice of the Shepherd like few have known. David was the Spirit-filled psalmist and sovereign of Israel. He was one of the most courageous and faithful leaders in Israel’s troubled history. However, listen to David’s testimony during one of the darker periods of his life: “My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God? When I remember these things , I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday. Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance. O my God, my soul is cast down within me…” (Psalm 42:3-6). David’s heart was broken. His soul was depressed. Yet, he did not fully understand why: “Why art thou cast down, O my soul?” David’s case is not so different from that of many, in that his heaviness was without an obvious cause.
Discouragement is an enigma. The same soul might bear up under the heaviest burdens at one season, then faint under the weight of a feather at another time. It cannot be completely understood.
Probably the most common cause of discouragement is a steady stream of negative news – “evil tidings” as the Bible terms it. One burden might be borne easily with grace, and two such burdens with extra patience, but lay a succession of burdens and problems upon this soul, and the spirit bends to breaking point. The Bible refers to this as manifold temptations, or many and varied testings and trials: “Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:” (1 Peter 1:6). Even the most stout-hearted believer may faint under such a heavy load!
3. What are the consequences of discouragement?
What may result from a state of discouragement and despair? Quitting, fainting, bitterness, laziness, folly, unkindness, anger, apathy, lethargy, pessimism, and even suicide. Discouragement is NOT good!
It is true that God may well use a discouraged man, but surely God is more likely to use a man that is encouraged. Nehemiah put it this way: “for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10). If I could help and encourage others, I must first be helped and encouraged myself. A dreary and downcast Christian is a poor advertisement for Christianity, and a happy witness is more likely to be effective than a miserable one.
How many missionaries have left the field of service because of discouragement? How many pastors have left the ministry because of discouragement? How many members have quit serving the Lord because of discouragement? How many Christians have left their place of service within the church because of discouragement? How many Christians are no longer in church because of discouragement? Too many to number, I fear.
4. What must I do when I am discouraged?
I am afraid that we too often view discouragement and depression like a spiritual illness or mental malady. It is certainly true that, in a few cases, the root cause is more complex and deep-seated than a simple case of spiritual despondency. However, in the majority of cases, discouragement is a spiritual problem with a spiritual cure.
Consider 2 Timothy 1:7, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” If we have a spirit of fear rather than faith, weakness rather than power, then we lack a sound and disciplined mind. We need God to renew our spirits and minds with His Spirit and His mind. However, this is easier said than done.
I do not believe that it is God’s will and desire for us to remain discouraged and despondent, even though seasons of such may be useful in the overall work of God in our lives. We must learn, then, how to encourage ourselves in the Lord, as David did at a time of terrible tragedy and sorrow, “And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.” (1 Samuel 30:6).
First, we must recognise the true problem. The problem is not the person, or the problem that leads us to feel discouraged; the problem is discouragement itself. The root cause of discouragement is, I believe, selfishness. We focus on ourselves and our circumstances, when we ought to keep our eyes on Jesus – “looking unto Jesus” (Hebrews 12:2). A little introspection is a good thing; too much is a recipe for destruction and despair! “He who would have his spirit bowed down even to the very earth, has only to fix his thoughts upon himself and his circumstances, instead of looking to God and His promises.” (Spurgeon).
Second, we must seek the face of God. In Psalm 143, David said, “I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land.” Prayer is always the right response to problems. We are commanded to be anxious about nothing and pray about everything (Philippians 4:6-7) – why worry when you can pray? This seeking after God is more than a perfunctory petition offered with puny passion! It is an earnest, heartfelt yearning after God – His strength, His presence and His grace.
Third, we must renew our minds. We must cast down imaginations – thoughts that cause us to dive into the doldrums of discouragement and depression. “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;” (2 Corinthians 10:5). By the grace of God, allowing the Spirit of God to govern our thoughts, we must renew and reprogram our minds with scripture – and lots of it. Learn to practice the profitable art of meditation by memorising Bible verses that speak peace, comfort and hope to the soul.
Fourth, we must thank, praise and worship God regardless of our mood or circumstances. Job said while distressed and depressed, “And said, Naked came I out of my mother’ womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” (Job 1:21). Praise, worship and thanksgiving have a powerful effect upon the human soul – they lift us up to a higher spiritual plane.
Conclusion:
Christian, if you face discouragement or depression, do not lose hope. Better men and women than you or I have gone through this valley and emerged happy and victorious, by the grace of Almighty God. Remember the words of one who often faced this soul travail: “The worst forms of depression are cured when Holy Scripture is believed.”