When I was reading my Bible a few days ago, this verse (and two others near it worded very similarly) really stuck out to me. You see, lately, I have been fighting a battle of discouragement. I won't go into all the personal details, but for the last few weeks it has felt like no matter what door I came to, it would appear to be open, and once I reached it, the door would either be slammed in my face, or quietly shut as I was about to step through. (This is all metaphoric, by the way, for those of you who are wondering if i'm just really clumsy.) I've questioned why nothing is working out, and it all being on the heels of great things happening in my life. I've prayed and prayed, and no answer has come. I've encountered less-than-encouraging people along the way, and it all culminated Wednesday afternoon.
I was devastated by the lack of direction I had, and I felt really discouraged. All I could think about was why God had not answered my prayer. Then, after reading that verse, a thought came to me. God is not the author of discouragement. It clearly says in that verse to hope in God. In verse 11 of the same chapter it says, "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God." I was reminded that He is my God. Not just a god, but He is MY GOD. He cares for me on a personal level. He is not the author of my discouragement.
If God is not the author of discouragement, then who is? I looked up the definition for the word discouragement, and this is what I found, "The feeling of despair in the face of obstacles". Why would God want us to be in despair? He wouldn't! There has to be another force at work spreading discouragement. The circumstances may be God's way of saying, "Wait," but discouragement is not His purpose. God does not want us drowning in a sea of discouragement. The other force at work is a force that wants us to doubt the God that loves us. It is a force that wants each of us to forget the things God has done in our lives, and forget the plans He has for us. It is a force that wants to overshadow God moving in our lives, and take our minds off of His grace, and onto uncertainty. That force could be Satan, or it could be an inner struggle you have, but either way, neither of those forces want you to trust God for your problems. Neither of those forces want you to realize that you can hope in God, and that He will be your help.
So how do we combat discouragement? One way that I have found is to realize when you don't know what to do, do what you know to do. Keep fighting! Keep pressing forward! Sulking a corner might give you some self-gratification for a moment, but continually wading in it will only sink you further into your discouragement. I'm not saying do not take time to re-group, but continually being in a re-grouping phase is not taking action.
Another way to get past discouragement is a truth I have learned in a book I've read recently called "The Circle Maker" by Mark Batterson. It says, " We won't remember the things that came easy; we'll remember the things that came hard...It's not just where you end up that's important; it's how you get there." That is a deep truth that is often hard to accept, but once you have accepted it, it becomes much easier to move forward. Once you realize that some of our greatest struggles become our greatest victories, it becomes easier to walk through the bad times. And some day, when you're out of the struggle, you may realize that God knows more than you do.
That brings me to my final point. The point that God knows more than you do. This is a hard concept for me to grasp as well, considering that I try to control a lot of the things in my life. God has a plan for you--a great plan that if you just wait for Him, He'll show it to you. I know that is easier to say than to follow, but keep it in mind. God is not your enemy. He is for you. And if He is for you, who could be against you? He's bigger than all your problems, bigger than all your fears, and big enough to know what you need in your life.
