Encouragements for a Discouraged Soul
One comfort is that it would be highly unusual not to be discouraged and afflicted as a Christian throughout your life. If one does not experience suffering, difficulty, hardship, difficult temptations or no trouble at all that would not be in keeping with the New Testament teaching on what the experience of a Christian would be. For we are told that we will have difficulties in this life, but we should take heart because Christ has overtaken the world. So one need not be discouraged because they face suffering as if it is abnormal.
“It is not only cruel and empty-headed to say that it is easy to live in the abnormality of this life, it is also a complete contradiction of what the Bible teaches. Each of us is marred by abnormality in many ways, whether it is physical or otherwise. To think it is easy and not to be overwhelmed at times simply is not what the Bible pictures” (Letters of Francis Schaeffer, 155)
We are wise to humbly trust in God’s Providential hand in our suffering and disappointment when the clouds cover our understanding.
“Christ was angry at the death of Lazarus, without being angry at himself (Schaeffer, 158).”
Christ Cherishes Us in Our Failures
Despite our shortcomings and failures, Christ cherishes us. His heart goes out to us even more in our deepest needs than when we feel no need of him.
Discouragement Cannot Stop God’s Work and Salvation
As a person cannot stop the wind from blowing or the sun from shining, nor can someone stop the soul from being brought to heaven. “For those God has given to Christ, he will bring home.” These are the ones you have given me. John 17.
Hope in Small Things
Mustard seed moves mountains. The least measure of grace moves mountains, and causes Satan to be crushed. For it is not our faith ultimately, but the object of our faith that gives us victory.
“See a flame in a spark, a tree in a seed. See great things in little beginnings. Look not so much to the beginning as to the perfection, and so we shall be, in some degree, joyful in ourselves, and thankful to Christ.” (Sibbes, Bruised Reed, 124)
Let us not mock the hope of small beginnings. The Lord rejoices in small steps in his children, should we not as well?
Discouraged Over Inward Sin
1. Christ does not scold us in our sins.
Ex. When Christ was betrayed by the disciples, the first time he sees them he does not remind them of their failure to him but call’s them brothers.
“ His first words shall be to rate (scold) them for their faithlessness and falsehood. But here is no such matter; for his first word concerning them is, “Go tell my brethren’ (John 20:17). You read elsewhere, how that it is made a great point of love and condescending in Christ so to entitle them; ‘He is not ashamed to call them brethren’ (Heb. 2:11). Surely his brethren had been ashamed of him.” (Goodwin, The Heart of Christ, 28-29).
2. He remembers our Sin No More.
“Poor sinners, who are full of the thoughts of their own sins, know not how they shall be able at the latter day to look Christ in the face when they first meet with him. But they may relieve their spirits against their care and fear, by Christ’s carriage now towards his disciples, who had so sinned against him. Be not afraid, ‘your sins will he remember no more.” (Goodwin, Heart of Christ, 29-30).
Christ does not look backward to what is passed. Or chides and passively aggressively reminds us of all he has suffered for us. Don’t forget that I died for you, remember when you fell asleep in the garden, or denied me to a 12 year old girl? Or had to poke my side to believe that I was real? At least my other friends believe in me.
Christ does not shame us in our weakness, but wishes to comfort and strengthen our doubts.
Discouraged Over Lack of Faith
Strengthen Outward
We strengthen not by causing them to look in themselves but to have them look outward to their Saviour. Discouragement makes us look inward, which swallows our faith. To grow faith we must look outward to a gentle and lowly Saviour.
Jesus’ greatest desire is that we faith. Out of faith flows the streams of grace and hope. It is only CHrist that we have life and hope. Our faith strengthens us, gives us power over sin. Faith overcomes anxiety and fear. But it is not the faith that conquers again, but Christ. Let us not confuse the two. Easily slipped into self-confidence found in our faith alone not Christ alone.
Easy to be tricked in many ways. Discouragement over too much pride, too little faith, overconfidence in works. Anything can cause a discouraged heart to become down cast and Satan to tempt them with lies.
“Satan is not particular what lie he tells you; one will work as powerfully as another if he can get you to believe it.” (William Gurnall, Armour, Vol. 1, 71)
Assurance
Christ as the atoning sacrifice for us. “That is the only ground you will ever have for access into God’s presence. If you lose sight of this truth, it is your faith that is weakening; and as your faith weakens, your assurance evaporates. Your faith, in this instance, is weakening because you are losing sight of that on which it rests, that which it trusts. A Christian’s faith is powerful, not because it is intrinsically strong, but because its object is reliable-Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ crucified. So we may call Jesus and all he has done for us the objective ground of Christian assurance. (Letters from a Senior Saint, 28)
Jesus Gives All
Jesus uses the term brother, no longer servant. But he also says our father. Where I am, you will be also. This idea of Christ giving everything he has to us. Withholding nothing.
Peter’s Command from Jesus - “feed his sheep.” They were sheep without a shepherd. He desires that his children be fed and not left alone. He sends the Comforter and he gives leaders in the church charge over them. Jesus does not leave us without hope, he gives all to us now and complete allness when he brings us home.
