The Battle Against Discouragement

Can I spend a minute telling you the value of having a circle of fellow believers? Priceless.

I just got off the phone with a dear friend of mine. We had a big win in moving forward in our calling, and I was sharing the news. I expressed how I really needed it, because I’d been feeling discouraged lately since things weren’t working out the way I had hoped. She came back with the best encouragement: God’s timing is perfect. He wants to see if you will stay obedient even when it doesn’t look like anything is happening. Walk in faith even when you don’t see the results you think you should see.

The key phrase there was: the results I think I should see.

For we walk by faith, not by sight. – 2 Corinthians 5:7

You need these kinds of friends if you’re going to make this journey with God. We aren’t built to understand his ways; he is the only one who knows the grand plan. We’re called to walk by faith, following his guidance, and trust that even when we don’t see what we think we should see…God knows it all. These friends are the ones who will pick you up when the world comes crashing down on you; the ones who will encourage you when you don’t think you can keep going; the ones who will love you through your mistakes and set your feet back on the path. These friends are how you survive.

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken. – Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

There are a lot of things in this world that are discouraging. For so many reasons, staying motivated is hard; the world’s viewpoints sometimes seem so much easier, you thought God told you one thing but it’s not panning out how you planned, life is hard…you have to press on, and you will certainly need others to help you on occasion.

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. – Galatians 6:9

Often my discouragement comes from putting God in a box that fits the size of my own ideas, but God’s vision is so much bigger and broader than anything we can think or imagine. He can see ways to answer our prayers that we never contemplated…and if we aren’t careful, because we’re looking for one answer in a very specific way, we’ll miss his answer in another, far more impactful way. This is especially true when we’re stepping out in faith to do what God has asked us to do. What God asks of us usually isn’t “normal” by the world’s standards –that’s often how I know it’s God. Most of what God has asked me to do has been atypical for the logical mind. And it often takes those close to me that understand what it means to step out in faith to remind me that: 1) God’s plan may be different than my idea of how it should work out; 2) God is never wrong; 3) God’s timing may be different than our own; 4) A stall in what you thought should be happening could be a test of your faithfulness.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. – Isaiah 55:8-9

You may already know this about me, but in case you don’t…I’m a high-level achiever with a plan to win. If anyone, including God, asks me to do something – I’m not just going to do it, I’m going to excel at it. I’ve struggled with God’s idea of success being different from my own. I want to reach a million people and share God’s love…God may need me to reach just one. I want to reach a hundred people tomorrow…God may need me to reach one, two years from now. Following God’s direction means being patient, and open to the possibility that your idea may not be his idea, but you can’t lose faith in the process. God doesn’t need us to complete his master plan, but he will allow us to participate if we walk in faithfulness and anticipate nothing but doing it his way, in his time.

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. – Romans 8:28

But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. – 1 Corinthians 12:18

If you’re struggling with God’s calling on your life, know that I am praying for you. I would be happy to pray with you. If you have no one to encourage you on this walk, I would love to do so…because this walk is hard, the road is long and paved with many potholes. When you trip, you need someone to help pick you up, dust off the dirt, and set your feet back in the right direction. I’m praying that you are finding your circle, growing in it and with it, and pressing forward into God’s glorious purpose for you.