Today’s Truth

So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded (Hebrews 10:35 NIV).

 

Friend to Friend

Have you ever felt the sting of rejection? That’s a silly question. I don’t know anyone who hasn’t.

When I first started writing, I sent off sample chapters to various publishers. Shortly after, rejection letters came creeping into my mailbox.

“Thanks, but no thanks. “Nobody knows you.” “Your manuscript does not meet our needs at this time.” “Blah, blah, blah.” You get the picture.

At that point, I had two choices: quit or keep pressing on. I’ll admit, quitting seemed mighty good about then. But after I moped around for a while, I decided to keep pressing on.

Have you ever gone through a period of discouragement? Perhaps you’re in one right now. Believe me, I’ve hidden in the cave with Elijah (1 Kings 19), under the gourd plant with Jonah (Jonah 4), and in the desert with Moses (Exodus 3-4). If you don’t know those stories, look them up. You will probably be able to relate.

Discouragement comes when there is a gap between what you expect and what you experience—when there is a gap between what you hoped would happen and what actually does happen.

Discouragement can destroy your passion and undermine your purpose. It can take root because of what others say or didn’t say—a mom who said too much or a dad who said too little. Unmet expectations can become the breeding ground for discouragement to multiply and take root.

We certainly see that in Moses’s life. When Moses was forty years old, he expected to be the deliverer of his people. But what he experienced was rejection and regret. Forty years later, when God called him to lead the enslaved Israelites out of Egypt, Moses argued:

Moses said to the Lord, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue” (Exod. 4:10).

This statement that came out of Moses’s stuttering lips was simply not true. As Stephen reminded us: “Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in speech and action” (Acts 7:22). Moses had defined himself by his failure and was held hostage by a constant state of discouragement. Oh friend, we need to be so careful to not do the same.

Discouragement causes many a believer to pull up a lawn chair in the cul-de-sac of Christianity and refuse to venture out to the adventurous faith. They mumble the words “Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me” over their hopes and dreams. They fill the gap between what they hope for and what they experience with the false belief that dreams aren’t worth the effort.

What we tend to see as a permanent condition, God sees as a temporary situation. What you see as one of your greatest setbacks might be one of God’s incredible setups for marvelous miracles to occur. If you are meeting resistance in your hopes and dreams, then you’re most likely on the right track. The devil wouldn’t mess with you if you weren’t a menace to his plans and a valuable asset to God.

What the devil really wants to do is steal your confidence, and the best time to rob you blind is during a season of disappointment. Guard your heart. Don’t be caught unaware and allow him to hold you back, trip you up or slow you down. The circumstances are, well, just circumstantial—collateral damage in the real battle to take away your confidence in Christ.

So don’t let the devil win. You are more than a conqueror through Christ Jesus!

Let go of debilitating discouragement and take hold of your next assignment!

I’m glad I didn’t quit writing when those first rejection letters came. If I had, I would have never known the excitement of seeing one of my books on a bookstore shelf. I wonder what discouragement God wants you to push through to see your dream come to fruition.

 

Let’s Pray

Dear God, I’ll admit that sometimes I get so discouraged I feel like I can’t go on. When things don’t go the way I thought they would, I just want to quit. Help me to remember that my greatest setbacks might be one of Your incredible setups for marvelous miracles to occur. Give me the God-confidence that I need to keep moving forward in Your will.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

 

Now It’s Your Turn

Read 1 Kings 19:1-18 What did God say to Elijah when he was hiding because of discouragement? (Verses 9 and 13). Did you notice that God allowed Elijah to rest for a bit? But then it was time to get up and get going.

Is there some area in your life where you’ve been hunkered down in discouragement, but now God is saying, “Get up and get moving!” If so, leave a comment and say, “I’m going to get up and get moving!” .

 

More From the Girlfriends

If you are in a period of discouragement, Sharon’s book, Take Hold of the Faith You Long For: Let Go, Move Forward, Live Bold will help you move forward and take the next step.

 

 

Learn how to dream again. Let go of anything that holds you hostage to a “less than” life and take hold of all that God has for you and already placed in you. The book also comes with a Bible Study Guide for groups or personal study.

© 2022 by Sharon Jaynes. All rights reserved.

 

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9 Responses to “When You Feel Discouraged”

  1. Jedidiah says:

    Thank God so much for this write up. I got so discouraged and couldn’t see a path no more, all my expectations, faith and prayers seemingly useless. I told God that I was just going to take things as they come, but now i’m not going to quit at the finishing line. I’m sure going to get up and get moving. So help me God, Amen

  2. Courteney says:

    The timing of this devotional is so perfect! I am a nurse and really prayed about a new job- and then got one in the operating room. Since starting the job I have been so overwhelmed and discouraged for the past 7 weeks. I know God opened that door for me to go work there so I am trying so hard to stay motivated and not go back to my old comfortable job. The discouragement just keeps rolling in. You have no idea how much your devotional means to me after this week! Thank you!

  3. Carola says:

    Me identifico.estoy totalmente desanimada tengo una pequeña tienda de ropa y no he vendido casi nada en el último mes.tengo que pagar alquiler y demás cosas y no se que hacer. solo le pido a Dios que me guíe a tomar buenas decisiones.Lo cierro? O sigo? O cambio de lugar?.

    Oro.. Señor quiero hacer bien todas las cosas ayúdame.

  4. Judy says:

    My husband and I felt this discouraging feeling 5 years ago when accusations were made regarding our spiritual work at our church by a few members. We felt driven away and stopped participating in church activities and going to church. We turned to other church services via computer to feed us. It was so hard to not pick up and move forward to do Gods work. We prayed and after 2 years and leadership changes at our lifelong church we felt God probing us to get up and move. First we had to forgive and then push Satan away. We did it. We are doing Gods work and active in our spiritual walk. Your message spoke volumes to me, wish I had read it 5 years ago. Thank you.

  5. Carol says:

    Sharon, all I can say is “Amen” to your message!
    Just this week at my Bible study, our leader said,”Have you ever felt that “dry spell” with God?” Most of us agreed, but yet we all keep attending our mid-week gathering.
    And just this week, I had a strange phone call from a “sand paper” friend, that just wanted to tell me how much hypocrisy was going on in the church, that I attend?!
    All I could do was listen(like Jesus), and then gently remind him of his own religious up-bringing and give him an example of Jesus and His teachings(Matt. 7: 1-5).
    After our call ended, I prayed for him and wondered, “did I show the right kind of witness?”
    and I then realized, God used me as a disciple of peace to my friend, that needed some calm from his storm.
    GIG’s you never know when God will use your spirit-filled personality; just continue to stay faithful. He will use all small efforts to do His work.
    Thank you, Sharon for your faithfulness to us.

  6. Deborah says:

    I get discouraged and quit, I don’t follow through with plans, projects,writing children’s books. I get frustrated let it go. I feel inadequate lacking self confidence.
    I encourage other’s to move forward, but I don’t do it for myself.
    Today’s devotional has put spark in my spirit to move forward. Thank you Sharon.
    Thank you Courtney for your services, you are appreciated more than you know.

  7. Missy says:

    I’m going to try.

  8. Chelsa says:

    I’m going to get up and get moving! I SO NEEDED to receive this message of inspiration!! Movingly motivational and inspirational. Thank you SO MUCH for this MUCH NEEDED message! May God continue to bless you and yours!!

  9. McKesur says:

    Hello Missy,

    In your message you stated you will try. I’m assuming you are stating you will try to keep going. I will be praying for you to move forward in doing the work God has called you to do with confidence.

    Discouragement will come, and sometimes we give in to it and quit. God grows us during those times when we persevere in spite of the discouragement. You and others won’t fully see the hand of God moving in your life if you give up. Keep going in Jesus’ name.

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