Exposing The Root Of discouragement
The level of discouragement expressed by some of the Fam Fellowship members in the past few days has been surprising, so I thought taking a look at its root cause might help. And while no one wants to hear it, there’s ONLY one reason for discouragement, and that’s unbelief, because IF we truly believed in the word of God; IF we truly took Him at His word and believed in His power to bring every word He speaks to us to pass, we’d be filled with peace and joy, because we’d know what He promised, HE WILL DELIVER! And the saddest and most ironic thing about unbelief is that it is the ONE thing that CAN keep God from doing what we’re so afraid He can’t or won’t do! That’s just one of the strange mysteries of God, but Hebrews 3:19 makes that very clear because it says So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief. So God’s CHOSEN people couldn’t take hold of His promise and enter into the PROMISED Land, JUST because of their unbelief. And the same thing will happen to our restored marriages if we insist on letting the human frailties and weakness of our spouses overshadow the glory and power of God! Unfortunately, the dangerous and destructive power of unbelief couldn’t be more clearly spelled out than it is in Matthew 13:58, which says And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith. That’s why Satan spends so much time and effort trying to make us focus on everything BUT the glory and might of God and His omnipotent power to bring every word and promise in the Bible to pass! And even though we’ve experienced the greatest miracle of all, which is the miracle of our own salvation, we tend to be just like the Jews mentioned in John 12:37, which says Even after Jesus had done all these miraculous signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him.
On the other hand, when we make an intentional and deliberate CHOICE to believe in God and take Him at His word, we will be like Abraham, and have the same kind of faith described in Romans 4:19-21, which says Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. And Hebrews 3:5-6 tells us Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house, testifying to what would be said in the future. But Christ is faithful as a son over God’s house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast. So we just have to hold on to the hope we have in the word of God. But we will struggle with that too if we don’t fully understand that god ALWAYS has a purpose and that He will ALWAYS do whatever it takes to make that purpose come to pass. So maybe the following verses will help us understand that, and help us realize once and for all that God DOES have a plan and purpose for us and for the restoration of our marriages and families, and that HE will do what it takes to accomplish that purpose:
Acts 13:36
“For when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his fathers and his body decayed.
Romans 9:10-12
Not only that, but Rebekah’s children had one and the same father, our father Isaac. Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad—in order that God’s purpose in election might stand: not by works but by him who calls—she was told, “The older will serve the younger.”
Romans 8:28
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.“God is mighty, but does not despise men; he is mighty, and firm in his purpose.
Psalm 57:2
I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fulfills {his purpose} for me.
Isaiah 49:4
But I said, “I have labored to no purpose; I have spent my strength in vain and for nothing. Yet what is due me is in the LORD’s hand, and my reward is with my God.”
2 Corinthians 5:5
Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
Philippians 2:13
for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.
Colossians 2:2-32
My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
2 Thessalonians 1:11
With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith.
Revelation 17:17
For God has put it into their hearts to accomplish his purpose by agreeing to give the beast their power to rule, until God’s words are fulfilled.
It’s SO natural to want what we want when we want it, and it’s easy to feel frustrated when we think we’re doing what we’re supposed to be doing, and the Lord doesn’t appear to be doing His part. Of course, that’s not true, because God even has a purpose in all that too! so I hope the following poem and verses will be helpful the next time you struggle with discouragement or when you’re just tired of waiting. Unfortunately, I don’t know where the poem came from or who to give credit for it, but I’m sure the author would be pleased to see it used to offer the comfort and encouragement so obviously intended, so be blessed and encouraged!
Wait…
Desperately, helplessly, longingly, I cried.
Quietly, patiently, lovingly God replied.
I pled and I wept for a clue to my fate,
And the Master so gently said, ‘My Child, you must wait!’
‘Wait?’, you say, wait!’ my indignant reply.
‘Lord, I need answers, I need to know why!
Is your hand shortened? Or have you not heard?
By FAITH I have asked, and am claiming your Word.
‘My future and all to which I can relate
Hangs in the balance, and you tell me to WAIT?
I’m needing a ‘yes’, a go-ahead sign,
Or even a ‘no’ to which I can resign.
‘And Lord, you promised that if we believe
We need but to ask, and we shall receive.
And Lord, I’ve been asking, and this is my cry;
I’m weary of asking I need a reply!’
Then quietly, softly, I learned of my fate
As my Master replied once again, ‘You must wait.’
So, I slumped in my chair, defeated and taut
And grumbled to God, ‘So, I’m waiting…for what?’
He seemed then to kneel and His eyes wept with mine,
And he tenderly said, ‘I could give you a sign.
I could shake the heavens, and darken the sun.
I could raise the dead, and cause mountains to run.
All you seek, I could give, and pleased you would be.
You would have what you want–but, you wouldn’t know ME.
‘You’d not know the depth of my love for each saint;
You’d not know the power that I give to the faint;
You’d not learn to see through the clouds of despair;
You’d not learn to trust just by knowing I’m there;
You’d not know the joy of resting in me
When darkness and silence were all you could see.
‘You’d never experience that fullness of love
As the peace of my Spirit descends like a dove;
You’d know that I give and I save…(for a start),
But you’d not know the depth of the beat of my heart.
‘The glow of my comfort late into the night.
The faith that I give when you walk without sight,
The depth that’s beyond getting just what you asked
Of an infinite God, who makes what you have LAST.
‘You’d never know, should your pain quickly flee,
What it means that ‘My grace is sufficient for thee.’
Yes, your dreams for your loved ones overnight would come true,
But, oh, the loss! if I lost what I’m doing in you!
‘So, be silent, my child, and in time you will see
THAT THE GREATEST OF GIFTS IS TO GET TO KNOW ME.
And though oft may my answers seem terribly late,
My wisest of answers is still but to WAIT.’
–Author Unknown
Psalm 5:3
In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.
Psalm 27:14
Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.
Psalm 33:20
We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield.
Psalm 38: 15
I wait for you, O LORD; you will answer, O Lord my God.
Psalm 135:5
I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope.
Psalm 37:7
Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.
Psalm 37:34
Wait for the LORD and keep his way. He will exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are cut off, you will see it.
1 Corinthians 4:5
Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.
James 5: 7
Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains.
Isaiah 30:18
Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!