Overcoming Discouragement

Posted on September 14, 2014 by Unknown

Discouragement is one of the most effective weapons Satan uses against us.  Whether we are a young person striving to get out oft he

**What is Discouragement**
It is an unhappiness in the heart, and a lack of confidence in…
- My own ability…
- The power of the gospel…
- In God.

In this passage of Nehemiah we have story and history of a time when the city of Jerusalem had been destroyed. Razed to the ground by the Babylonians.  Nehemiah went to the king of Persia, who had conquered Babylon to let them go back and rebuild.  When Nehemiah arrives the walls had been there

They started the work with enthusiasm, but there were voices that rose up and sowed discouragement, which was poison to the work.

Here we see some specific things used to discouragement them.
**1. Fatigue - verse 10**
This is why God gave us the Sabbath.  We know this very much. We called this burnout.
**2. Frustration - verse 10**
There was to much rubble.  There was no heavy equipment in this day, they had to move this massive rubble by hand.  The task seemed immense.  They had started strong, but realizing how big the task was they got very frustrated.
**3. Failure - verse 10**
"by ourselves we will not be able to…" They had begun to think of themselves as failures.  We cannot do this.  Our enemies do this.  And it all started with a single thought.  One person felt this and then told another and another. 

When we has a church begin to say we cannot to this and that… we do not dishonor ourselves, we dishonor God!  Something fails in the past and it "failed" and we say we can't do that.  But that is not what the bible says.

>"I can do all things in Christ who strengthens me."

**4. Fear  - verse 11**
Fear is one of the greatest things that discourages us.  If we walk around in fear of our enemies and the world around us, eventually Satan will give us.

When there is dissent we to often respond…  "Don't stir the pot… Just give them a little and they will quiet down… ".

No, no, no…

We fear no one but God. Here what Nehemiah said,

>"Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives and you homes.". - v. 14

**That which takes us our of discouragement is to**

**1. Remember the Lord**
We cannot for him or fear will overtake us. 
**2. Rely on each other**
The church is describes and a body where all the parts rely on each other.  We are known by our love for each other.
**3. Refocus on the Gospel**
Whenever discouraging words came to Nehemiah, he ignored that and refocused on the work.

So what is our work.  To take the gospel to this city and to this world.  We cannot forget what is that we are here for.

**For the Gospel. For the City.**


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