When Discouragement Hits The Fan

Discouragement is something that I believe everyone battles, especially believers. I have pointed out before that the devil works in four ways. Through pride, fear, shame, and discouragement. There is nothing that will satisfy the devil more than when we face discouragement. If we let it, it will affect our walk with God, our ministry, our friendships, our families, and the way we evangelize. When you get down in the dumps, it's easy to not want to do anything that will impact anyone for the Gospel of Christ. This is the place where the devil wants us most! Ineffective for the Kingdom of God because we are disappointed about something or our expectations were not met. We then walk around feeling sorry for ourselves as if we have the power to 'save' anyone anyways. News Flash: the only way someone finds Jesus is if Jesus softens their heart to hearing His message. Our only responsibility is to live like we know Jesus and preach His good news of the Cross. That's it! Everything else will fall into place. Sometimes we just need to realize that we are not the heros; we are only the messengers. Simply mail-men constantly being chased and harassed by the devils dogs. Discouragement is common, but sometimes you just need to kick it in the teeth and remind yourself that you are a child of the King!

I have been studying Ezekiel lately and the Lord has given me a new perspective and appreciation for the ministry that many of us get to be apart of now. In the first 3 chapters God told Ezekiel to go back to the Israelites and preach His Word because they were acting rebellious. He warned Ezekiel to not rebel like them or be afraid but to stand firm and continue to preach whether they listen or not. God then tells him, by the way, the people of Israel will not listen to you for they are hardened and obstinate.  At the end of chapter 2 after he had received the mission from the Lord, it says that Ezekiel went in bitterness and in the anger of his spirit; he sat near the Kebar River for 7 days deeply distressed and overwhelmed! 

Imagine being given that ministry job. God tells Ezekiel to go and preach boldly but he won't see anyone convert, no repentance, no heart change...nothing. Ezekiel is not going to see anything positive. You don't blame him for getting bitter and angry. You understand the discouragement he must have faced. Of course he is going to be overwhelmed and distressed. He's literally doing mission impossible. But that's not the point. God told him to go and he obeyed!

We don't save anyone. Our only mission is to be obedient to God. I thank God that I actually get to see the fruit of His Word. Maybe you are in a season in your church where it seems like nothing is progressing. The fact is, your situation isn't as bad as it seems. You will see life change in the name of Jesus. Are you willing to obey Him? Are you willing to keep going, keep living, keep preaching the name of Jesus? If so, you've already won because Jesus has already won!