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Dealing with Discouragement

                If you want to be successful in any part of your life, it is essential that you defend against discouragement.  Over the last thirty years, discouragement has been my biggest enemy.  Here are two of the best lessons that I have learned to help get me through.
                First, we must realize that our influence only goes so far.  We like to think that if we do the right things we will get our desired result, but that is not always true.  Consider Jotham, King of Judah.  2 Chronicles 27 says that he, “Did what was right in the eyes of the Lord” (verse 2a).  That same verse goes on to note that, “The people, however, continued in their corrupt practices!” (verse 2b).   For people who like to be in control, this is a hard truth, but you cannot make anyone do anything.  All you really control is you.  The sooner we accept that, the better off we will be.
                Second, we must nurture a sense of expectation and hope.  Without this, we will not survive! This hope is not based on what I can do, push, or produce.  Rather it rests on the fact that God is always at work (John 5:17) and therefore anything can happen!
                Exodus 17 finds God’s people wandering around in the desert thirsty and discouraged.  They have no hope.  Moses asks God what he should do, and this is the response: “Take your walking stick… and strike the rock and water will come out of it for the people to drink!”  Water from a rock is not the answer anyone expected, but it was God’s answer. 
                “Is the Lord among us or not?” (Exodus 17:7).  God people must answer that question.  If we believe he is, then nothing is hopeless!  Pray for God’s “open doors” (Colossians 4:3) and be ready for the unexpected.
                When I have tried to force results, I have often ended up defeated and discouraged.  When I have done my best and believed that God was at work, I have been pleasantly surprised by the results.  The challenge of faith is to live every day trusting God’s plan and not our own. 
                When we learn to do that, discouragement will have a hard time reaching us.
                “So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless” (1 Corinthians 15:58).

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