When Others Try To Discourage You

Do you sometimes feel discouraged? Do you feel that no matter what you do it may never be enough? That

your spouse, children, boss, co-workers, friends will never be satisfied? They will always look for ways to belittle you or put you down? As a writer, I often feel discouraged when I query an agent or editor, after putting forward my best effort, and never receive an acknowledgement. Or when I do, it's followed by a "No, thank you." No matter how many times it happens, rejection still stings.

I imagine that must have been the way Moses felt when the people of Israel grumbled at him in the wilderness. They had been under tremendous oppression from Pharaoh for four hundred years and had been crying out to God for deliverance. But when He finally delivered them through the hands of Moses, the Israelites sought every opportunity to complain. It began when they neared the Red Sea and saw Pharaoh and his army pursuing them.

 "Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt?
 Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness" (Exodus 14: 11-12).

But God parted the Red Sea so the Israelites were able to cross over on dry land. Then when they had all crossed over, God sent a wind to blow the sea back and cover up the Egyptians. The Bible says, "And Israel saw that great work which the Lord did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the Lord, and believed the Lord, and his servant Moses" (15: 31). 

However, the people soon returned to complaining and disobeying God, and their journey lasted forty years instead of days. http://www.bibleabookoftruth.com/whythelordledtheisraelitesthroughthewilderness.pdf
Moses tried his best to be a good leader, but no matter what he did, the people were never satisfied. On one occasion, he became so angry he struck the rock when the people complained they had no water to drink. But despite his discouragement, Moses continued to do what God had called him to do. He served the people, and God, well.

We can all learn from Moses' example. He did not get to enter the promised land, but God took him up into the mountain and showed it to him. Then Moses died and God buried him there. What an honor! We are told that  "Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated" ( Deuteronomy 34: 7).

Whatever may be causing you discouragement, remember this: your success does not depend on anyone but yourself and God. Keep on serving and honoring God and He will honor you.

When Fear Strikes

I know I've written on this subject before, but this past week I received some awful news that the son of one of my in-laws was murdered. I barely knew the young man, but fear, anxiety and sadness reared up like a three-head monster. I used to think I was invincible, had all the answers, knew all the scriptures. But last week my armor seemed to have a hole in it somewhere. As a mother, my mind was filled with negative thoughts, I lost sleep and found myself crying at odd moments. Scared, I wondered if I was becoming depressed.

But thank God for His comforting word and for good Christian friends who prayed with me. As I lay in bed unable to fall asleep, I recited scripture after scripture: Psalm 91, Psalm 121, 2 Timothy 1 : 7, 1 John 4 : 18, Philippians 4 : 6 - 8 and many others. My anxiety persisted but eventually loosened its hold. I can think of that incident now without my heart pounding and without crying.

As I look back on that horrible week, I thought of Elijah, mighty prophet of God, who ran for his life when Jezebel threatened to kill him because he had slain the prophets of Baal.

"But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die ; and said , It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers" (1 Kings 19: 4).  

 There were many great prophets in the Bible, but few could be compared to Elijah. His story reminds us how easily we can become discouraged when the enemy attacks us. This mighty man of God was fearful to the point of being suicidal. However, the Bible goes on to say that the Lord sent an angel twice to minister to Elijah. 

"And he arose, and did eat and drink , and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God" ( v 8).

I had to have the Holy Spirit minister to me to get me out of my state of anxiety and depression. Without Him I would be lost. Are you suffering from anxiety and/or depression?  These conditions should not be taken lightly. In some cases you may need to be seen by a healthcare professional, but in all cases you need the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Immerse yourself in His word, in His presence, in His healing power and watch that anxiety vanish. 

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Here are some books that contain prayers that will help you get through those anxious times when the words simply cannot come.

 Finding Peace For Your Heart A Woman's Guide To Emotional Health

The Power of a Praying® Woman Deluxe Edition

Living Beyond Your Feelings: Controlling Emotions So They Don't Control You