Defeating Discouragement

This is an article by John Lineberry. He faithfully serves the Lord by sharing what God has taught him through his many years of ministry. I am greatly encouraged by his faithfulness and love for the Lord. This article was originally directed towards pastors, and you may notice some direct references to pastors and their ministry. However, we all deal with discouragement and the truths for overcoming discouragement apply to all believers. The second half of this article will be published next week.

Discouragement is universal in scope and personal in focus.

People from all walks of life mistakenly think a Pastor is somehow immune to it. No one knows better than a Pastor himself that he can become disheartened. This affliction often hounds his pathway as a relentless hinderer.

A Pastor knows that Satan will stop at nothing to get a church leader’s mind off God’s work. The Lord nevertheless can and will give spiritual power and strength to the man of God who may at one time or another find himself in the midst of this problem.

The Lord hasn’t promised all sunshine to His servants who seek to honor Christ and serve people. Some of the greatest servants of all time have battled against debilitating disillusionment regarding being called to serve God.

The bold and fearless Elijah, one of Israel’s greatest prophets, had to wrestle with adversity and a lack of self-confidence. On Mount Carmel, Elijah was as bold as a lion and as daring as an eagle as he championed God’s cause against the false prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18:27—30). Fearlessly, he wrestled for Truth. When Jezebel’s threats reached Elijah after the showdown on Mount Carmel, the prophet’s heart melted within him. His feet turned to wings, and he fled from her like a coward (1 Kings 19:1—13). Elijah was so overcome by spiritual, mental, and physical exhaustion that he prayed to die (vs. 4).

Did you know that Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892), the renowned Pastor of London’s Metropolitan Tabernacle whose godly influence can never be measured this side of eternity, once became so discouraged that he was out of the pulpit for six months?

Vance Havner (190l—1986), America’s beloved Bible teacher and influential author, also found himself gripped by the tentacles of discouragement. For a whole year, he was unable to minister publicly. When Havner recovered from that experience of being in a deep spiritual valley, he wrote a book recounting his trials entitled “I Walk through the Valley.” The book has been used by God to lift the spirits of many of His servants.

Discouragement may come to a Pastor when he gets his priorities out of proper focus. For example, he may study the Word of God for sermons only instead of nourishing his soul first with the Scriptures of Truth. Or we may study God’s Word merely to check it off a list or to tell someone else we are reading our Bible. We need to read God’s Word for spiritual nourishment and encouragement. 

Discouragement will linger just around the corner if the Pastor is caught up in the instant-result syndrome. The wise Pastor and prudent congregation will work and pray, leaving the results with God. The Lord has promised to bless His Word in His time (Isa. 55:11). Trouble comes when we become impatient for results.

The gospel ministry at home and abroad must be supported with patience and supplication. There is something about doing God’s will faithfully that offsets the pitfalls of discouragement.