Discouragement: Pt 4 The problem is not the problem; the problem is the path through the problem!

When walking through a cemetery you will see stone after stone that states RIP = rest in peace. So many say the same thing…but you notice immediately if there is one that is out of the ordinary…here are some real epitaphs that break the rut of RIP:

In a Ribbesford, England, cemetery:  Anna Wallace, The children of Israel wanted bread; And the Lord sent them manna, Old clerk Wallace wanted a wife, And the Devil sent him Anna.

In the Boot Hill Cemetery, Tombstone, Ariz.:  Here lies Lester Moore, Four slugs from a forty-four; No Les - No More

In a Uniontown, Pa., cemetery:  Here lies the body of Jonathan Blake; Stepped on the gas, Instead of the brake

In a Silver City, Nev., cemetery:  Here lays Butch, We planted him raw. He was quick on the trigger, But slow on the draw.

A lawyer's epitaph in England:  Sir John Strange, Here lies an honest lawyer, And that is Strange.

In a Georgia cemetery:  "I told you I was sick!"

One definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over, the same way and expecting a different outcome. That is exactly what will lead to crippling discouragement. Living in a rut will lead to loss of hope; we must take action to break that circle of despair that leads to discouragement. 

We have already seen the first step we need to take is to: Set The Record Straight! We do that when we - Deal With Guilt & Deal With Lies

Step two is just as important:

{2} Separate yourself from sources of discouragement - NOT THE PROBLEMS, BUT SOURCES OF PROBLEMS! We all have problems, the problem with how we handle our problems is that we keep feeding the problem from the same source, foolishly hoping it will change. We need be proactive in discovering new avenues of help for dealing with problems. Here are some practical ways.

         a. Establish a time and place to commune with the Lord.

Don’t intend to do it…Do it! You say, “Easy for you Nate, you're a Bible teacher!” That is even more dangerous! My Bible can become my dead textbook that I teach lessons from, which never impact my life!

John 5:39–40 “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life.

Remember the Pharisees knew what the Scriptures STATED, but not what they MEANT! We need to be alone with God, with nothing on the agenda but to commune with Him. It helps to take the issue you are dealing with, and instead of looking for a verse or two, seek texts of Scriptures that speak to that issue.

Example:

·      Overwhelmed - Ps 102

·      Obedience - Ps 37 & 73

·      Sin in you life - Ps 51 & 32

·      Career disappointment - Phil 3 & 4

         b. Turn off people with little or no faith

Do not treat them mean or rude, but disallow their lack of trust to impact you.

Proverbs 24:7  Wisdom is too high for a fool; in the assembly at the gate he has nothing to say.

Proverbs 26:4-11 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you will be like him yourself. Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes. Like cutting off one's feet or drinking violence is the sending of a message by the hand of a fool. Like a lame man's legs that hang limp is a proverb in the mouth of a fool. Like tying a stone in a sling is the giving of honor to a fool. Like a thornbush in a drunkard's hand is a proverb in the mouth of a fool. Like an archer who wounds at random is he who hires a fool or any passer-by. As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.   

Psalms 14:1 The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good.

Remember, Joshua and Caleb trusted God, but the people listened to the lack of faith from the other spies and their hearts were turned! Numbers 13 & 14

c. Seek out examples.

This happens by allowing yourself to be discipled, mentored and coached by more mature believers…bad news – this takes time! So you have to decide what you want, an existence with lots of stuff, but no heart to enjoy it, or a LIFE with less stuff, yet with a heart excited about living. Contrary to movies say…we cannot have it all! Quality life requires more than part time effort. Read Christian Biographies and be encouraged to imitate them.

Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

1 Corinthians 10:1–6 For I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea; and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and all ate the same spiritual food; and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ. Nevertheless, with most of them God was not well-pleased; for they were laid low in the wilderness. Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they also craved.

Our third step is the most difficult for we human beings:

         {3} Stand Still

1 Kings 19:9–13 Then he came there to a cave and lodged there; and behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and He said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”  He said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the sons of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars and killed Your prophets with the sword. And I alone am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.” So He said, “Go forth and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord was passing by! And a great and strong wind was rending the mountains and breaking in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of a gentle blowing. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. And behold, a voice came to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

At times we need to come to the end of ourselves and just listen; then God will speak.

Psalm 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.”

This does not mean STOP! It does mean…pause, quiet the noise, and calm the thoughts.

We should not make decisions in a discouraged state of mind; there is no sense of reality…if you believe there is a Living God that makes ALL things possible!

Meditation Questions: What inputs do you have in your life = people, books, TV, etc.? Pick a time to spend 5 minutes with God each day this week. Wait on any decision until you have become quiet in your heart and mind, so you can hear the Lord. What source of people of faith are you bringing into your life?

When we come back to this, we will look at certain things that must change.