Dealing with Discouragement

Everyone gets discouraged from time to time.  Whether it's with our life, our job, our family, even our church.  A wise man once said to me "Everything in life has some part that stinks; 80% may be good, 20% stinks.  If we focus on the 20% that stinks, before you know it - EVERYTHING STINKS!"

Its true!  If we would take an honest assessment of where our head is at when we're feeling negative or discouraged, we'd find that we're probably focusing on the 20% of our life / our job / our church that stinks, instead of the 80% that is a blessing.  I can come home after a wonderful Sunday service where God was glorified, people made decisions for Christ, and if I start looking at all of the little things that went wrong, before I know it the entire service was a flop! Well, the service WASN'T a flop, I just had a stinky perspective!  I've learned that after a Sunday service, my wife and I need to come home and celebrate the WINS that week! (There'll be plenty of time to address the things that went wrong later!)

But what do you do when you're in that stinky place?  How do you come out of it?  A great answer is found in scripture, Hebrews chapter 10:

#1 Thank God for our salvation:

Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.  Heb 10:19-22

Because of our relationship with Christ, we now have access to the Holy Place, the Great Priest, our Lord Jesus Christ!

#2 Remember the hope that we have in Christ

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. Heb 10:23

When everything is wrong, there is one thing that is always right:  Our destination is Heaven!

#3 Encourage someone else:

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:24-25

I believe one of the most powerful things we can do is to find someone that is hurting, struggling, or suffering, and encourage them!  Call them and invite them for coffee.  Pray with them!  Find scriptures that will speak life into their situation!

That's my challenge for you this week:  Reach out to someone, and share the love / strength / hope of Christ with them.  Trust me, it'll change your perspective!

Pastor Clay