Dismiss Discouragement

Discouragement, a pang caused by diminished or depressed hope, courage, and, or confidence. An invisible cloud that looms overhead, echoing the emotional anguish felt before and after bed. In such times we must remember our Savior. His sacrifice nullified the debt binding us to death. His departure afforded us the Holy Spirit, our receipt of salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. We must remember Jesus when strenuous situations attempt to chain us, and emotional darkness aim to imprison us. We must remember our powerful Father, who tailored the days to inevitably lead to the enemy’s dismay. Remember God’s power to begin dismissing discouragement. Thinking of God’s power highlights His sovereignty and ability to do the impossible. Thinking of God’s power sets the mental and emotional stage God needs to orchestrate His destined plans into motion. Disheartened souls can delay the move of God. In first Samuel chapter 16 verse 1, we see God’s response to prophet Samuel crying over God rejecting Saul as king. God rejected Saul because his heart was not in the right place. Instead of putting God first, Saul loved the acceptance of people. Saul put the voice of the people over God and this revoked his right to the throne. Samuel was discouraged by this because he was set on Saul being king over Israel. God rejecting Saul diminished Samuel’s hope. God responded to Samuel’s disheartened soul by saying, “How long will you mourn for Saul since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king” (1 Samuel 16:1 NIV). If Samuel tarried in discouragement, he would have delayed the move of God, which eventually led to King David, a man after God’s own heart. Sometimes God responds to us in this way. Asking: how long will you hold on to that which is not for you? How long will you cry over a thing that no longer defines you? How long…? God instructs us to rise up and move on to things prepared for us before the earth’s foundations were lain. Recalling God’s power fortifies minds against doubt by dispelling discouragement. In the beginning, God laid the foundation of the earth, even the heavens are His masterpiece (Hebrews 1:10 KJV). Remembering God’s power quiets thoughts and makes it easier to hear from God. The reality of God’s power gives us peace. Peace opens hearts and ears to better receive God’s instruction and revelation. After this we can then motivate ourselves to drive away discouragement. If we bypass this order by speaking to ourselves before remembering God’s power, we risk giving our disheartened souls space to negatively influence us. Remembering God illuminates the shadows pain produces in our hearts and souls. Remember God’s power. Ask God for strength and He will empower you. We are to seek the Lord our God, we will find Him if we seek Him with all our hearts and with all our souls ( Deuteronomy 4:29).