FACING THE GIANTS OF.....

  DISCOURAGEMENT & DISAPPOINTMENT

Are you Discouraged right now?  Perhaps you have recently suffered a big disappointment in your life. 

I can recall periods of disappointment and discouragement in my life and I can remember one thing about these times....I was miserable!

I would suppose that Discouragement is one of the most commonly-used tools in the devil's arsenal!

Today from the Word of God in Nehemiah 4 we're going to look at:

The Curse of Discouragement

The Cause of Discouragement

The Cure of Discouragement

How we respond to Discouragement when it comes into our lives it vital.....Our response will determine whether, quite frankly, whether we will defeat discouragement and disappointment or whether it will defeat and enslave us!

As I think about the CURSE of Discouragement, I think about how it takes the smile off our faces and robs our joy!  It keeps us from being our best and often leads to failure and in many ways.  Discouragement can often lead to just giving up and quitting, whether that be at our job, personal relationships, or our particular ministry or duty at Church God has called us to do.

When I look at the CAUSES of discouragement, I see three:

OUR OWN ACTIONS CAN BRING DISCOURAGEMENT

Things we done or said ourselves....perhaps we regret now.  If possible we need to go to people and do 'damage control' and correct or apologize if that is possible.

Often we bring discouragement and disappointment to ourselves by making bad decisions.  For these we must 'fix' what we can, and then we must move on.  Some decisions can't be changed now.

Other times we bring discouragement to ourselves because of BAD HABITS we choose to enslave ourselves to.  With God's help we can free ourselves from these bad habits that are bringing heartache to our lives.

THE ACTIONS OF OTHERS CAN BRING DISCOURAGEMENT AND DISAPPOINTMENT

This is a difficult thing to deal with, because often we don't have a whole lot of control over what other people do and say, but we do have control over how we respond to the actions of other people!

Then perhaps the most difficult cause of discouragement to deal with....

THINGS WE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER...CAN OFTEN CAUSE DISCOURAGEMENT

The weather is something we have no control over...and there are countless other things and situations you and I could name that WE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER....that are causing disappointment and discouragement in our life.  These situations are most difficult because we can do nothing to alter the situation except to turn the matter over to the Lord!

The Bible Gives us  advice on the CURE FOR DISCOURAGEMENT and DISAPPOINTMENT in Nehemiah Chapter 4.

 Nehemiah was the Cupbearer for the King and he was discouraged because the walls of God's Holy city Jerusalem were in shambles.  Nehemiah wanted to do something about it!  Instead of letting the devil use discouragement to ENSLAVE and defeat him, Nehemiah determined, with God's help, to do what he could to fix the problem that was discouraging him.  He gets permission to go to Jerusalem with some good people and start rebuilding the walls of the city.  Notice how the devil sends discouragement his way....

Nehemiah 4:1-4  But it came to pass, that when Sanballat heard that we builded the wall, he was wroth, and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews.
2 And he spake before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, What do these feeble Jews? will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice? will they make an end in a day? will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned?
3 Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall.
4 Hear, O our God; for we are despised: and turn their reproach upon their own head, and give them for a prey in the land of captivity:

Now I learn the following things from this passage:

DISAPPOINTMENT AND DISCOURAGEMENT WILL HIT ALL OF US AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER!

Notice that disappointment often comes from the words and actions of other people.......

Now there's not a whole lot we can do about that....we can't control what other people say and do.....

But we can control over how we react to the discouragement and disappointment that other people bring our way.

Notice what was the first thing Nehemiah did.....

Did he retaliate and try to get even with these people and fight back?   No.

THE FIRST THING TO DO WHEN DISCOURAGEMENT AND DISAPPOINTMENT COMES....IS TO PRAY!

Turn the matter over to the Lord.  Ask for His help to deal with the discouragement and disappointment.

The next principle I see is found in verse 6

 So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work.

Get Back to Work.....Get Busy.....Don't sit around and Sulk!

That's just what the devil wants you to do....and it is the worse thing you can do.  The Devil gets us alone and starts working on our mind if he can.

Get busy.  Do what you can to fix the problem if something can be done.  If not, do what you can to do the job you have to do.  If you are overwhelmed, do what needs to be done first!

Especially in the Work of the Lord, if you're discouraged the best thing you can do is get back to work for the Lord!

So far we learn these important lessons:

a) Discouragement will happen to all of us.

b) Staying Discouraged in OUR CHOICE.

c) When we STAY discouraged...it is because we have taken our eyes off the Lord and we're not looking to Him!

Would you agree?

Let's see what happens in Verses 7,8

7 But it came to pass, that when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up, and that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth,
8 And conspired all of them together to come and to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it.

AS LONG AS WE LIVE ON THIS EARTH, THERE ARE GOING TO BE PEOPLE WHO DISAPPOINT  AND DISCOURAGE US.

People at work.   People in your town.   Sadly enough, even people in your church.

You will be misunderstood.   People will let you down that you were counting on.  Some people you counted on will turn on you and even oppose you.

Why?   For jealousy, envy.....who knows?   For any one of a hundred different reasons.  

V9,11 teaches me another principle,

9 Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.
11 And our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, till we come in the midst among them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease.

BE ON THE LOOK OUT FOR DISCOURAGING PEOPLE AND AVOID THEM.  IGNORE THEM.

Learn to ignore them.   Try to avoid them.   Don't pay attention to them. 

Now be kind, don't be rude.  But just don't let them get to you.

I like how Nehemiah handled the DISCOURAGERS in Nehemiah 6:2,3.....He just told them, "I don't have time to listen to you....I'm busy working!"

Nehemiah 6:2-4:  That Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying, Come, let us meet together in some one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief.
3 And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?
4 Yet they sent unto me four times after this sort; and I answered them after the same manner.
 

Back to chapter 4 in verse 10, I see the following:

And Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and there is much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall.

REMEMBER THAT FATIGUE MAGNIFIES DISCOURAGEMENT

It is amazing how that the devil will wait until our bodies are really physically and mentally tired when he really zeroes in on the attack!

It is amazing sometimes what a good night's rest or even a nap will do to help the situation not look near as bad as what we had thought!

I also learn from verse 10,

REMOVE THE RUBBISH IN YOUR LIFE

Now what is 'rubbish'?   It is something that we don't need...it just clutters and is in the way?  It needs to be removed. 

There are some things in our lives that are hindering our walk with the Lord, and perhaps even helping make the discouragement worse!  

Time consumers?   Things in our life that are not really that important, but somehow we've committed ourselves to doing them and they have just added to our problems by giving us more stress and pressure!    And they end up HINDERING us in our walk with the Lord and being all He wants us to be!

Perhaps you have some some 'BAD HABITS' in your life that have become rubbish to you.....hindering your walk with the Lord?

Can you think of any?

Can you list some rubbish in your life that needs to be removed and gotten out of the way so you can get back to working for the Lord?

Verse 13 tells us the following:

13 Therefore set I in the lower places behind the wall, and on the higher places, I even set the people after their families with their swords, their spears, and their bows.

WHEN FACING DISAPPOINTMENT AND DISCOURAGEMENT,

 DON'T ISOLATE YOURSELF

There is power in numbers!  That's why God instructs us over and over again in Scripture to not forsake the assembling of ourselves together in church with God's people because we need each other's encouragement!  

When we get alone, the devil can really start working on our minds!

The next step we see in dealing with disappointment and discouragement is found in Nehemiah 4:14.....

And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord, which is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.

LOOK FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO ENCOURAGE

That is what Nehemiah does!   He encourages the people!

Oh, the power of encouragement!  Are you and encourager or a discourager?

You know, each of us are either one or the other!

My friend, we need to be especially careful or our 'constructive criticism' of other people.   We don't know what they are going thru right now in their life, and our 'criticism'....even though it be meant for good......can do more harm than good.  Especially with those doing the Lord's Word, we need to be careful of our criticism and offering of 'advice', because the devil has probably been trying to discourage those trying to do the Lord's Work himself for some time too!

Oh, what a word of encouragement or appreciation can do for a person when given at the right time!

And another benefit, when we encourage others, there is a Biblical principle I believe that God will sent others to encourage us!

Doesn't Proverbs 11:25 teach that principle?

"The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.

Try this and see what happens...... Determine next Sunday at Church to be an encourager!  Make a list and go to as many people as you can on your list and say something encouraging to them or that you appreciate something they do!    

It is amazing how that seeing their eyes light up....actually will do you and I good too!

The next principle on Dealing with Discouragement is also found in v14:

And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord, which is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.

REMEMBER HOW THE LORD HAS DELIVERED YOU IN THE PAST

Step back for a moment.  Look at the big picture to get perspective on things.  Just reflect on how He has delivered and help you in past!   Has He ever failed you before?  

Reflect on what all God has accomplished for good.  Look at all the good things that God has done for you.

You will likely see things are not as bad as what the devil is trying to get you to think........which leads to the next principle found in the same verse......

PRAISE THE LORD FOR ALL HE HAS DONE

That is what Nehemiah did...see verse 14,

And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord, which is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.
 

Nehemiah testifies to the people just how GREAT the Lord is!   Turning the tables on the devil and starting to praise the Lord even in when things look dark.....has such an amazing effect on one's discouragement!
 

Then I also see from verse 14,

GET YOUR MIND OFF YOURSELF AND START THINKING ABOUT OTHERS

Look at the verse again,

And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord, which is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.

When we realize others are counting on us and we need to keep fighting for them, it changes our outlook on things!   Other people are depending upon us.  Our family is one example....our kids.... You just can't quit....you've just got to keep going for them....and countless others who are depending upon us!

Look at verse 15,

And it came to pass, when our enemies heard that it was known unto us, and God had brought their counsel to nought, that we returned all of us to the wall, every one unto his work.
16 And it came to pass from that time forth, that the half of my servants wrought in the work, and the other half of them held both the spears, the shields, and the bows, and the habergeons; and the rulers were behind all the house of Judah.

Notice everybody had a job to do and was important!

YOU ARE IMPORTANT

You are important to others.

You are important to God.

Others will be hurt if we give up and quit......or if we're not there in church, for example, to do our job or particular ministry!

Have you ever thought of this?   When you are not at church, you are not encouraging anyone.   And likely, someone.....is discouraged because you are not there!   Perhaps the preacher.  Your fellow workers.  Your friends at church.

I learn from verse 16 that everyone has a job in the Lord's work, especially in the local church....and when you and I are not there to do our job, SOMEONE ELSE is having to carry the burden of doing their work and YOURS TOO!    Did you ever think of it like that?

The next principle I see is in verse 17,

REACH OUT TO SOMEONE WHOSE PROBLEM OR BURDEN IS BIGGER THAN YOURS

That's what verse 17 teaches:

17 They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon.

You can look around you and it doesn't take long to find someone who carrying a lot bigger burden.....or dealing with a much larger problem....than you think you have right now.   Try it.   Offer to do something to help them with their problem....It has amazing results on our discouragement and disappointment!

The point is found in verse 18....

KEEP YOUR SWORD BY YOUR SIDE

Look at the verse,

18 For the builders, every one had his sword girded by his side, and so builded. And he that sounded the trumpet was by me.

My friend, our 'SWORD' is the Word of God, our Bible!  When you and I are discouraged, I have found the greatest comfort and encouragement by taking that Bible and claiming certain precious promises from God's Word.  Verses such as Psalms 46:1-3 come to mind.....

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.

There are a host of others that come to mind, and you have yours, that you can go to for comfort in trying times when people and circumstances seem to be doing you wrong.  My friend, we can face discouragement and disappointment and have the victory if we claim these principles!   We can't quit.  We must keep serving the Lord!  Too many others are counting on us.   Get back in the center of God's Will, serving Him down at your local church.  He has gifted you to do something, and you ought to find out what that is and get to doing it!   Is it working with young people?  Get busy in your church's youth program.   Is it working with your hands?  Ask what type of work needs to be done.   Are you gifted musically?  Get busy using those talents for the Lord.

If you have never trusted the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior, you need to do that.  Realize your lost condition and be sorry for your sin.  Believe that Jesus died for your sins and call upon Him to save you.  Trust His Death at Calvary to pay for your sins.

If this message has helped you, please let us know at gospelcenter@earthlink.net.  That will encourage us!