111 Overcoming Discouragement. Jeremiah 12.17.

If you are wrestling with an issue, and feel discouraged, Here is what you can do; First take a short look at the problem. Someone once said, “To hatch despair, just brood over your troubles.”!! Many people who experience setbacks ask why, but they never move beyond the question to the answer. No one can solve their problems by ignoring them, and neither can they be solved by becoming fixated and immobilised by them. Once you recognise and analyse the problem, you need to focus on the solution. Secondly, take a good, long look at the possibilities. Sometimes the problem you face helps you to see possibilities you didn’t know existed. When Louis Waterman needed to sign a document to seal an agreement, The pen he was using wouldn’t write, As a result Waterman worked on producing the first “Fountain Pen” which made him a millionaire. A culture Alexander Fleming was working on in St Mary’s Hospital in London was altered when a mould was accidentally introduced into it. But the result gave berth to the miracle drug “Penicillin”, thereby saving millions of lives. It’s very likely that if you are facing something negative today, there is an opportunity contained in it somewhere or somehow. It may not be easy to find, and it may not lead to a major breakthrough like it did for Waterman and Fleming. But then again – it might!! – especially if it causes you to turn to God for answers. In the words of (Jeremiah 32:17) “Ah Sovereign Lord, You have made the Heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for You.” To overcome discouragement, you can do two things. (1) Speak the right words:- One of the main causes of discouragement is negative self-talk. In his book “Spiritual Depression” Heart surgeon Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones writes “Most of the unhappiness in your life is due to the fact that you are listening to yourself instead of talking to yourself.” by that he means, we allow negative messages from our past to affect our thinking, instead of actively telling ourselves good things that will help us think more positively As Paul tells us in (Philippians 4:8) “Fix your thoughts on what is true and honourable, and right and pure and lovely and admirable. And think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” Don’t just think those thoughts, speak them out loud, words are powerful, they can reinforce your fears or strengthen your faith. The choice is yours. (2) Maintain the right expectations. Clergyman J. Wallace Hamilton once observed; “Every person’s life is a diary in which he or she means to write one story and is forced to write yet another.” Have you found that to be true in your own experience? So often life turns out so differently from what you planned. But here’s the good news; The story you write can actually be better than the one you imagined. - But you need to have the right expectations. Bill and Gloria Gather wrote the uplifting song lyrics “I anticipate the inevitable supernatural intervention of God, I expect a miracle” What are you anticipating from God today? Before you answer that question, Pick up your Bible and see what God has promised you and say “Oh Lord God, I humbly ask your favour to give me what I ask of you today, but only if it will, not in any way damage or weaken my relationship with you. In Jesus name I pray. To identify the source of your discouragement, it’s good to get insight and guidance. But you can talk so much and get nowhere. James (1:22 says “Be doers of the word, not just hearers only, thus deceiving yourselves.” So, (1|. Always do what is right. Few things increase discouragement like regret or a guilty conscience. Yes, It’s tough to apologise, admit you faults, forgive, restrain your temper, bear a deserved blame or start over again. But deciding to do so when they are appropriate always pays off. Be willing to view your life realistically, see yourself as you are, accept what you see and what is true. Only then will you be in a position to do something about it. (2) Remember, timing is important. Often we look for relief in the valley instead of waiting on the clarity that comes from standing on the mountaintop. That’s because it takes a lot of effort to get to the top of the mountain when we are experiencing the darkness of the valley. It’s tempting to make changes we hope will relieve our discomfort. But as Dr. Robert Schuller says “When you are on the top of the proverbial mountain… Is the time to make decisions. And here is why...You see your situation more clearly. You are moving to something, not just from something. You are deciding using positive data, not negative. Doing it this way, you are more likely to move from peak to peak rather than from valley to valley. On the other hand if you persevere while you are in the valley, you will make it to higher ground where you can make wiser decisions and develop your character which will serve you well through life. Thank you for reading these thoughts on “Overcoming Discouragement” I’m no professional... But... I know that our God is an encouraging God. And will come to our aid when we ask Him to. He wants us to succeed in life, in whatever area He has placed us. And as long as we put Him first in all our endeavours He will be right there with us in every venture.. So before starting any new projects or continuing existing ones, talk to the God who has all the answers and seek His advice and wisdom with diligence.. God Bless. Phaline. ----------------------