Are you tempted by discouragement? Do you feel like caving in or giving up? Do the news reports and other things going on around you have you anxious and worried? Maybe it’s your family’s finances and the general uncertainty of life. Maybe it’s health concerns, family problems, or something else. Or maybe it’s your own unsettled heart. What does God’s word say about discouragement and what will help?
Today’s Readings:
Deuteronomy 11 & 12
Psalm 37.18-22
Proverbs 12.12
Luke 2.1-24
When You’re Tempted with Discouragement
Deuteronomy 11 & 12:
A Father’s Heart
As I read back through chapter 11, I couldn’t stop thinking about Moses’ heart for these people. He knew he was going to die soon and would not be there to guide them. I could hear the voice of a father having one last conversation with his children before they would be on their own.
He started out verse 1 with the word, “Therefore …” Therefore, because of everything I’ve been telling you in chapters 1-10 …
Therefore you shall love the Lord your God, and keep His charge, His statutes, His judgments, and His commandments always.
Remember
But as if he was reluctant to quit speaking and to make sure they were getting it, he reviewed things one more time.
2 Know today that I do not speak with your children, who have not known and who have not seen the chastening of the Lord your God, His greatness and His mighty hand and His outstretched arm— 3 His signs and His acts which He did in the midst of Egypt, to Pharaoh king of Egypt, and to all his land; 4 what He did to the army of Egypt, to their horses and their chariots: how He made the waters of the Red Sea overflow them as they pursued you, and how the Lord has destroyed them to this day; 5 what He did for you in the wilderness until you came to this place; 6 and what He did to Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, the son of Reuben: how the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, their households, their tents, and all the substance that was in their possession, in the midst of all Israel— 7 but your eyes have seen every great act of the Lord which He did.
He knew there would be times when they would be tempted by discouragement, worries and cares, and the allure of the world around them. And he understood that remembering who God is and His promises to them was vital if they were to overcome discouragement and other temptations (Deut. 11.8-9).
Don’t Be Deceived
But tucked in among his encouragement to them was this warning, “Take heed to yourselves, lest your heart be deceived, and you turn aside and serve other gods and worship them” (Deut. 11.16).
What could cause them to miss out on the blessings God had for them? What would tempt them to walk away from a God who had demonstrated His power over and over? The same thing that got Adam and Eve into trouble … deception.
We’re not immune to discouragement and deception either. When we’re physically sick or suffering from loss, when things haven’t worked out the way we hoped, when we’re threatened with harm or the unknown, when it looks like people in the world have it better than us, we can be tempted with discouragement. And that discouragement can make us a target for the devil’s deception.
One Battle at a Time
God had promised to bless the nation of Israel abundantly. He had promised to cause them to defeat their enemies and take possession of the land, but not all at once. They would possess the land one battle, one victory at a time.
It’s the same for us. If we thought becoming a Christian would solve all our problems, that myth was soon put to rest. Instead, God grows and changes us by teaching us how to walk out our faith. He requires us to fight one spiritual battle after another, but He strengthens and enables us to succeed.
Be Careful Where You Look
But if we’re not careful we can get our eyes on the mountains ahead and the giants in the land, instead of the promises of God and His faithfulness.
Satan comes along and tells us, “God doesn’t care about you! He doesn’t care that your husband still isn’t saved or your children are driving you crazy. He doesn’t care that you’re out of work. If He did, why hasn’t He done something about it?” But it is not just Satan. Our own hearts can deceive us (Jer. 17.9).
If You’re Tempted with Discouragement
Maybe you’re tempted by discouragement. Maybe it’s news reports or a medical diagnosis. Or maybe it’s a relationship issue or some other difficult situation. Maybe you’re tempted to find someone to blame or to get angry and discouraged. Don’t.
God is at work in ways you can’t see. He is doing things in us and others. He is strengthening and maturing us in the waiting. And He wants us to trust Him.
Antidotes for Discouragement – Pray & Don’t Lose Heart
Jesus introduced the “Parable of the Persistent Widow” with this verse, “Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart.” One translation says, “… not cave in.” Another says, “… not give up.”
Hebrews 10.23 says:
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.
So, hold fast. Pray. Confess your lack of faith and trust in Him. Ask someone else to pray for you. Reach out to someone else who may need encouragement. Read a good book together like Trusting God by Jerry Bridges or It’s Not Fair! by Wayne Mack.
Don’t lose heart, cave in, or give up! He is faithful who promised!
Today’s Other Readings:
Psalm 37.18-22:
Takers & Givers
The wicked borrows and does not repay, but the righteous shows mercy and gives (v. 21).
The wicked borrow irresponsibly or deceitfully, but the righteous are merciful. One is a taker, the other a giver.
Let’s have givers’ hearts and share where we can. Let’s especially share our prayers and our encouragement.
Proverbs 12.12-14:
Speech is Connected to the Heart
Verses 13 and 14 compare two kinds of speech: wicked speech and good speech. It says the wicked man is ensnared by his own sinful speech, but the good man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth.
But the things we say don’t start with the mouth; they start in the heart.
Jesus said:
A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things (Matt. 12.35).
So, if we want good things to come out of our mouths, we must focus on putting good things in. We must keep short accounts with God and others and develop attitudes that are pleasing to God.
Luke 2.1-24:
God’s Timing is Still Right
Here in chapter 2 of Luke, God used a pagan ruler (Caesar Augustus) and his census to bring Mary and Joseph to the right place at the right time, so Jesus would be born in Bethlehem.
In hindsight, that’s easy to understand, but what do you think it looked like to that young couple? Did it look like good timing to Mary as she bumped along on the back of a donkey at eight or nine months pregnant? Did it look good to Joseph? Yet, it was.
And when we’re tempted to wonder, “Why me, Lord? Why now?” or “When, Lord?” it’s just as important for us to remember that God’s timing is always right.
Coming Up:
In the coming days, we’ll look at warnings about fortune tellers and their lot, talk about how trusting God applies to our choices, and discuss when to help (especially our grown children) and when to get out of the way.
I hope you’ll sign up so you don’t miss any of them.
This year I’ve added a couple of new features. First, check out the “Free Resources” tab at the top. You’ll find a downloadable, printable PDF with “Going Deeper Study Questions” for each day’s readings and a list of all the Bible readings so you can check them off as you go. You’ll also find the readings for each day on YouTube. The daily emails now have a link to both these Soul Survival posts and the YouTube videos. If you’re not already signed up, you can do it here.
And if this post spoke to you, I would so appreciate it if you would share it on your favorite social media platform.
Blessings as you grow in Christ,
Donna ♥
Note about this post:
I began blogging through the Bible in 2012 and have done so every year since then. These posts are the product of many edits and additions throughout those years. Some days I make major changes, other days fewer.
A while ago, I read Jen Wilkin’s book None Like Him about the attributes of God. One is His incomprehensibility. In it, she says, “God is incomprehensible. This does not mean that he is unknowable, but that he is unable to be fully known.”
I have found that to be true each year as I’ve gone back through the Bible. Sometimes I find myself feeling as if a passage just appeared there for the first time. I’m reminded that no matter how many times we read through the Bible, we have only scratched the surface. I hope you feel the same.
Indeed these are the mere edges of His ways,
And how small a whisper we hear of Him!
But the thunder of His power who can understand?” (Job 26.14)
Leave a Reply
Your email is safe with us.