Dealing with Discouragement.

Presentation on theme: "Dealing with Discouragement."— Presentation transcript:

1 Dealing with Discouragement

2 Most of us become discouraged at times
People let us down Rejection of the gospel Frustration and anxiety Lack of progress Criticism Failures

3 Did Jesus Become Discouraged?
A debated question Isaiah 53:3, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. Isaiah 42:4, “…He will not fail nor be discouraged, Till He has established justice in the earth; And the coastlands shall wait for His law.”” Discouraged in this text means “crushed, broken”

4 Did Jesus Become Discouraged?
Jesus faced many occasions where He COULD HAVE been discouraged John 6:67, “Do you also want to go away?” Luke 9:41, , “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you and bear with you?” Mark 14:34, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death…”

5 Did Jesus Become Discouraged?
Jesus faced many occasions where He COULD HAVE been discouraged The arguing and weak faith of His apostles Everything He endured around the cross Matthew 23:37-39, , “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets…”

6 Did Jesus Become Discouraged?
Discouragement happens But HOW you deal with it determines right or wrong. How we let it affect us is important. Hebrews 12:3 Whether or not Jesus become discouraged, we can learn from Him how to deal with discouragement and/or how to avoid it! (The answer to both is the same)

7 Jesus and Discouragement
He never gave up He endured. 1 Pet. 2:21-23, Luke 2:49, John 9:4 John 17:4, “I have finished the work…” John 19:30, “It is finished”

8 Jesus and Discouragement
We must never give up Galatians 6:9 Hebrews 10:36 Matthew 10:22 Romans 2:7, “patient continuance in doing good…” James 5:7-8

9 Jesus and Discouragement
He taught us to take a wider view John 4:35 John 14:1-3 We need to remember the “bigger picture” Genesis 50:20 1 Kings 19:18, Elijah was not alone 2 Timothy 4:17 God is in control – 1 John 4:4, 5:4

10 Jesus and Discouragement
He kept busy Acts 10:38 Luke 4:43, Matt. 10:11-15 John 9:4 Keeping busy can keep us from dwelling on failures, etc. We have plenty to do. Don’t stay in the pig pen – cf. Luke 15:15-19

11 Jesus and Discouragement
He associated with the godly Prov. 27:17 John 6:67, note Peter’s answer. Cf. Luke 22:43 We need each other 2 Corinthians 7:6 – Paul comforted Hebrews 12:12-13, 1 Thess. 5:14 Hebrews 10:24-25

12 Jesus and Discouragement
He prayed Often – Mark 1:35, Matt. 14:23, Luke 5:16, 6:12 Luke 18:1, “Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart,” We need prayer 1 Thess. 5:17, Heb. 4:16, Philippians 4:6-7

13 rule over our emotions rather than letting them rule us
Let us determine to rule over our emotions rather than letting them rule us