Discouragement is a key tool in the devil’s toolbox …

The Bible is the most encouraging book you could possibly read! Yet, have you noticed how often its message to Christians is an exhortation to not be discouraged?

That’s because discouragement is one of the most effective tools in the devil’s toolbox. If the enemy can discourage you, he can likely at least stall your forward momentum in faith, if not seriously harm it. There’s a story about the devil and discouragement that goes like this …

The devil, according to legend, once advertised his tools for sale at public auction. When the prospective buyers assembled, there was one oddly shaped tool which was labeled “Not for sale.” Asked to explain why this was, the devil answered, “I can spare my other tools, but I cannot spare this one. It is the most useful implement that I have. It is called Discouragement, and with it I can work my way into hearts otherwise inaccessible. When I get this tool into a man’s heart, the way is open to plant anything there I may desire.”

The legend embodies sober truth. Discouragement is a dangerous state of mind, because it leaves one open to the assault of the enemies of the soul.

Considering the fact that Christians are redeemed and adopted into God’s own family, with a wondrous eternity ahead, why do we so often succumb to discouragement? There are various reasons, but three in particular are quick to foster discouragement.

Bad things happen. You’ve probably heard the old saying, “Bad things happen to good people.” It’s true, but it shouldn’t be a surprise to us when it does. Jesus, Himself, warned us …

“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows …” John 16:33a.

For some reason, in spite of this clear and concise statement made by Jesus, we tend to let “bad things” knock the wind out of us mentally, emotionally, and even spiritually. That happens when we don’t take stock of the rest of the sentence in Jesus’ statement. Here’s what He said in full: “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world,” John 16:33.

The Apostle Paul experienced many of these “trials and sorrows” prophesied by Jesus, and had even become discouraged by them, but he learned the fullness of Jesus’ message, as reflected in his statement to the Romans, “No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us” (Romans 8:37).

“Bad things” will happen, and that’s when we need to respond in faith and push through rather than become discouraged and defeated. That’s a lesson taught in Sunday School Times …

“Did you ever notice,” said the old lady, smiling into the troubled face before her, “that when the Lord told the discouraged fishermen to cast their nets again, it was right in the same old place where they had caught nothing? If we could only get off to some new place when we get discouraged, trying again would be an easier thing. If we could be somebody else, or go somewhere else, or do something else, it might not be so hard to have fresh faith and courage; but it is the same old net in the same old pond for most of us. The old temptations are to be overcome, the old faults are to be conquered, the old trials and discouragements before which we failed yesterday to be faced again today. We must win success where we are, if we win it at all, and it is the Master Himself, who, after all these toilful, disheartening failures, bids us `try again.'”

Our own faulty thinking is a primary source for discouragement. We quickly interpret things being “difficult” as things being “bad,” and allow both to stir discouragement in our minds and hearts. When things don’t turn out the way we hoped, we can quickly fall into discouragement, telling ourselves we’ve failed, or entertaining an assortment of “woe is me” thoughts that sprout discouragement like irrigation brings greenery to a dry place.

Irrational thinking stymies the exercise of faith and hides God from our vision. When we fail to see God, we think we’ve been forsaken and fall into discouragement. Bishop Gobat of Jerusalem learned that lesson the hard way, as reported by the Gospel Herald …

Bishop Gobat of Jerusalem, after a long missionary journey at one time, was greatly discouraged, he felt that God had forsaken him. Finding a cave, he went into it, spending a long time in prayer, telling the Lord how forsaken he was. It was a very dark cave. After being in the dark a while, his eyes became accustomed to it. He was startled by seeing a wild animal, a hyena and her cubs, near him. It is said that there is no animal more ferocious than a hyena with cubs. But God protected him; the hyena never offered to touch him. God’s hand was keeping him at the very hour in which he thought that he was forsaken. He passed out unharmed. Oh that God would open our eyes so that we might realize the fact that at times when we get the idea that we are forsaken of Him He is keeping us from unseen dangers.

That experience reminded the bishop what Joshua had once said: “This is my command — be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).

Discouragement can also be the result of a wayward spiritual life. We can easily get sloppy in our daily followership of Jesus. When we stray from following in the footsteps of Jesus, discouragement quickly follows. The Sunday School Times related such a story …

Two pastors’ wives, alleges the Western Christian Union, were visiting together. One said: “I don’t know what we shall do — my husband is so discouraged. Somehow his people do not care to hear him preach, and our salary is far behind. My husband feels so blue that he does not like to visit the people and pray with them, and so he sits around at home nearly all the time.” The other sister said: “We are getting along fine. My husband spends much of his time visiting, and the people like to have him kneel and pray with them in their homes. Our congregations are always good, and our salary is paid up promptly.”

While the two sisters were talking they were mending trousers. One was mending her husband’s trousers at the seat, the other was mending her husband’s trousers at the knees.

Paul reminded the Thessalonians, who were already an encouraging fellowship of believers, to keep their focus on what Jesus had done for them, and what was still to come, and to use that to encourage one another …

“For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us. Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever. So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing,” 1 Thessalonians 5:9-11.

Scotty