Overcoming Discouragement, Pt. 3

Where do you turn when heartache and disappointment invade your tranquil life? It is easy to look within, but that is a trap. We must look up to God!

Overcoming Discouragement, Pt. 3

"I will lift up my eyes to the hills—
From whence comes my help?
My help comes from the LORD,
Who made heaven and earth."

(Psalm 121:1-2)

Where do you turn when heartache and disappointment invade your tranquil life? The easy place to look is within. You replay the hurt over and over in your mind, then you begin to get angry, and well, it just turns into a pity party or a hot mess! I know because I have done this so many times in my own life. The much better approach is to do what the psalmist teaches us in our text for today. When you need help, look up to God! He is the awesome creator God who made the heavens and the earth. He loves you and knows you by name. He can quiet your spirit and redirect your thoughts toward a positive solution. But first you have to quit looking within or looking to other people and instead start looking to Him.

If we choose to continue to live in disappointment then we can, according to Pastor Charles Stanley, expect the following results of living in disappointment:

Estrangement. You will stay away from people. The devil likes us alone. But one of the best things to do when down is be around others and seek to be a blessing to them. As a result, you will be encouraged and blessed. You will feel your courage and confidence begin to be restored.
Loss of Confidence. This is a devastating consequence of living in the gutter of disappointment. Everything begins to suffer. You have a negative spirit, gossip, talk yourself into a mess, assume you are completely right, vent, get depressed, and stay there. You are not happy, and you have no joy, peace, or contentment in your life. I was talking with a good friend of mine, Pastor Steve Gaines, years ago, and I shared how I was going through some challenges in ministry. I shared with him that the tough thing was that I had begun to lose my confidence to lead. Then, rather abruptly, Steve stopped me and confronted me, saying, "That is Satan!" And he was right, when you and I get that down, when all we can do is doubt and lack hope, then we must know that the enemy is near, and he is working overtime on us.
Negative Spirit. If you are battling this bitterness and negativity, please take a moment and do what the psalmist teaches in our text for today. Lift up your eyes to heaven, and ask for God's help. Be patient. Trust Him. The clouds overhead will run out of rain eventually. The sun will shine again on you.
Making Unwise Decisions. When you live under the cloud of disappointment and do not get out from under it, you will eventually make some terrible choices. Satan brings doubts, and you begin to drift in your walk with God, and that surely makes it worse. Your sinful actions may bring a little pleasure at first, but afterwards, you will become even more discouraged.

One of my "go-to" Christian songs that ministers to my soul is the song "My Help" by the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir. The song is based on Psalm 121. Take a few minutes to be blessed and deeply encouraged by this song. You can listen here or by clicking this button below:

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