Discouragement

A sense of unhappiness arising from a loss of confidence in one's own abilities, in the reliability of God or in the power of the gospel. Discouragement can occur in the Christian life, especially when there is resistance to the gospel or in instances of personal failure. Scripture provides reassurance for those who experience discouragement.

The experience of discouragement

Job 3:20–26 See also Numbers 21:4–5 the Israelites in the desert; Joshua 2:8–11 the Canaanites and Rahab; 1 Samuel 17:10–11 the Israelites and Goliath; 2 Kings 19:26 God's judgment on Sennacherib; Job 5:6–7; Psalm 38:1–14; Proverbs 1:26–27 Wisdom speaks to the sinner; Ecclesiastes 2:17–20 the Teacher's disillusion; Isaiah 21:2–4; Jeremiah 45:3 to Baruch; Ezekiel 21:7 God's judgment on Israel; Zechariah 10:2; 2 Corinthians 1:8–9 Paul

Why is light given to the miserable, and life to the bitter of soul, who long for death that does not come, and search for it like hidden treasure, who rejoice and greatly exult when they reach the grave? Why is life given to a man whose way is hidden, whom God has hedged in? I sigh when food is put before me, and my groans pour out like water. For the thing I feared has overtaken me, and what I dreaded has befallen me. I am not at ease or quiet; I have no rest, for trouble has come.”

Prayer in discouragement

Psalm 42:5–11 See also Deuteronomy 26:6–7; 2 Samuel 22:7 David; 2 Chronicles 20:9 Jehoshaphat; Nehemiah 9:32; Psalm 31:9–12; Isaiah 38:14 Hezekiah; Jeremiah 8:18–19; Jonah 2:1–2

Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why the unease within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him for the salvation of His presence. O my God, my soul despairs within me. Therefore I remember You from the land of Jordan and the peaks of Hermon — even from Mount Mizar. Deep calls to deep in the roar of Your waterfalls; all Your breakers and waves have rolled over me. The LORD decrees His loving devotion by day, and at night His song is with me as a prayer to the God of my life. I say to God my Rock, “Why have You forgotten me? Why must I walk in sorrow because of the enemy’s oppression?” Like the crushing of my bones, my enemies taunt me, while they say to me all day long, “Where is your God?” Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why the unease within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God.

Endurance in discouragement

Isaiah 42:3–4 See also 2 Corinthians 6:4–10 Paul; 2 Thessalonians 1:4; Hebrews 10:32, Hebrews 12:3; Revelation 2:3 concerning the church at Ephesus

A bruised reed He will not break and a smoldering wick He will not extinguish; He will faithfully bring forth justice. He will not grow weak or discouraged before He has established justice on the earth. In His law the islands will put their hope.”

Discouragement through disobedience

Jeremiah 8:9 See also 1 Samuel 28:15–18; Job 15:24–25 Eliphaz to Job; Zephaniah 1:17

The wise will be put to shame; they will be dismayed and trapped. Since they have rejected the word of the LORD, what wisdom do they really have?

Discouragement and discipline

Hebrews 12:5–7 See also Judges 2:14–15; Isaiah 26:16

And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not take lightly the discipline of the Lord, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you. For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises every son He receives.” Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?

Effects of discouragement

Proverbs 17:22 See also Exodus 6:9 the Israelites in Egypt; 2 Samuel 4:1; Ezra 4:4 the rebuilding of the temple; Job 4:5; Proverbs 15:13, Proverbs 18:14

A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.

Resisting discouragement

Deuteronomy 1:21 See also Joshua 1:9, Joshua 8:1; 1 Samuel 17:32 David reassuring Saul about Goliath; 1 Chronicles 22:13 David to Solomon; 2 Chronicles 32:7 Hezekiah; Jeremiah 51:46; Luke 18:1; John 14:1; Galatians 6:9; Ephesians 3:13; 2 Timothy 4:5

See, the LORD your God has placed the land before you. Go up and take possession of it as the LORD, the God of your fathers, has told you. Do not be afraid or discouraged.”

God's help in discouragement

Romans 8:35–39 See also Deuteronomy 31:6, Deuteronomy 31:8, Deuteronomy 31:23; Joshua 1:9; 1 Chronicles 28:20; 2 Chronicles 20:15, 2 Chronicles 20:17; Psalm 34:18; Isaiah 40:29–31, Isaiah 61:1; Luke 4:18; Jeremiah 30:10; John 16:33; 2 Corinthians 7:6 Paul

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For Your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor principalities, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Warnings not to discourage others

The Israelites discouraged when on the point of entering the promised land

Obadiah 1:12 See also Deuteronomy 1:28 by the spies; Numbers 32:7 by the Gadites and Reubenites

But you should not gloat in that day, your brother’s day of misfortune, nor rejoice over the people of Judah in the day of their destruction, nor boast proudly in the day of their distress.

General warnings not to discourage others

Psalm 109:16; Zechariah 10:2; Acts 15:19 James advises against discouraging the Gentiles; Colossians 3:21

The need to stand with the discouraged

Hebrews 13:3 See also Job 6:14; Jeremiah 8:21; Romans 12:15; James 1:27

Remember those in prison as if you were bound with them, and those who are mistreated as if you were suffering with them.