It is important to learn how to overcome discouragement whenever you are faced with it. Sometimes, circumstances and other people’s actions can get you discouraged and make you feel like you want to give up on your course. On the line of service, some people get hurt and betrayed by people they trusted or who should care for them. To fulfill your God’s given purpose, it is important for you to know what the bible says about overcoming discouragement and never give up on your life’s assignment no matter what comes your way. Whether you grieve for the loss of a loved one, or you experience a delay in your expectation, or are betrayed by those you trust; don’t let discouragement take the best of you. Decide to deal with the root cause, overcome it and continue to live a victorious life.
A BIBLE EXAMPLE OF DISCOURAGEMENT AND HOW HE OVERCAME
1 David and his men reached Ziklag on the third day. Now the Amalekites had raided the Negev and Ziklag. They had attacked Ziklag and burned it,
2 and had taken captive the women and all who were in it, both young and old. They killed none of them but carried them off as they went on their way.
3 When David and his men came to Ziklag, they found it destroyed by fire and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive.
4 So David and his men wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep.
5 David's two wives had been captured — Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel.6 David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the Lord his God
7 Then David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, "Bring me the ephod." Abiathar brought it to him
8 and David inquired of the Lord, "Shall I pursue this raiding party? Will I overtake them?" "Pursue them," he answered. "You will certainly overtake them and succeed in the rescue."
9 David and the six hundred men with him came to the Besor Ravine, where some stayed behind,
10 for two hundred men were too exhausted to cross the ravine. But David and four hundred men continued the pursuit.
11 They found an Egyptian in a field and brought him to David. They gave him water to drink and food to
12 part of a cake of pressed figs and two cakes of raisins. He ate and was revived, for he had not eaten any food or drunk any water for three days and three nights.
13 David asked him, "To whom do you belong, and where do you come from?" He said, "I am an Egyptian, the slave of an Amalekite. My master abandoned me when I became ill three days ago.
14 We raided the Negev of the Kerethites and the territory belonging to Judah and the Negev of Caleb. And we burned Ziklag."
15 David asked him, "Can you lead me down to this raiding party?" He answered, "Swear to me before God that you will not kill me or hand me over to my master, and I will take you down to them."
16 He led David down, and there they were, scattered over the countryside, eating, drinking and reveling because of the great amount of plunder they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from Judah.
17 David fought them from dusk until the evening of the next day, and none of them got away, except four hundred young men who rode off on camels and fled.
18 David recovered everything the Amalekites had taken, including his two wives.
19 Nothing was missing: young or old, boy or girl, plunder or anything else they had taken. David brought everything back (1 Sam 30:1-19-NIV).
BIBLE VERSES TO HELP YOU OVERCOME DISCOURAGEMENT
1 Samuel 30:6 (KJV)
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
Isaiah 43:2 (NIV)
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when
you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk
through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.
Jeremiah 32:27 (NIV)
I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for
me?
Proverbs 18:14 (MSG).
A healthy spirit conquers adversity, but what can you do when
the spirit is crushed?
Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV).
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer
and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of
God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds
in Christ Jesus
Isaiah 44:2-3 (KJV)
Thus saith the Lord that made thee, and formed thee from the womb, which will help thee; Fear not, O Jacob, my servant; and thou, Jesurun, whom I have chosen. For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring
James 5:13-15 (NLT)
Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises. Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord. Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well. And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven.
Isaiah 61:3 (NIV)
And provide for those who grieve in Zion — to bestow on them a
crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and
a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of
righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendour
Isaiah 51:3 (NIV)
The Lord will surely comfort Zion and will look with compassion
on all her ruins; he will make her deserts like Eden, her wastelands like the
garden of the Lord. Joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the
sound of singing
Isaiah 12:3 (NIV)
With joy, you will draw water from the wells of salvation
Psalm 30:5 (KJV)
For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life:
weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning
1 Peter 5:7-NASU
Casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you
Psalm 121:1-7 (NIV)
I lift up my eyes to the hills — where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip; He who watches over you will not slumber indeed, He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord watches over you — the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm; He will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.
Psalm 37:25 (NIV)
I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.
Isaiah 35:3-4 (TLB)
With this news bring cheer to all discouraged ones. Encourage those who are afraid. Tell them, "Be strong, fear not, for your God is coming to destroy your enemies. He is coming to save you.
In conclusion, whenever you feel downcast, do not speak despair, fear, discouragement or lack. Speak to the situation what God's word says about it. Say there is a lifting up, overflowing joy, peace like a river or whatever you need because words are seeds, and you will have what you say. See reference below in four translations.
Job 22:29
When men are cast down, then thou shalt say, There is lifting up; and he shall save the humble person (KJV)
For those who feel low, you'll say, 'Chin up! Be brave!' and God
will save them (MSG)
When they cast you down, and you say, 'Exaltation will come!' Then He will save the humble person (NKJV)
When you are cast down, you will speak with confidence, and the humble person He will save (NASU).
Be encouraged! God bless you.
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