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What to Wear When You’re Discouraged by Andy Lee

18 Feb What to Wear When You’re Discouraged by Andy Lee

Posted at 01:00h in Andy Lee, GWG Blog by

What To Wear When You’re Discouraged

Do you know the ache of discouragement?

The one that makes you want to quit, cry, or run away (or all three)?

Disappointment or failure, or unanswered prayers can stir that ache.

We try and try again. We love, step out in faith, stay faithful to the task, and the return is empty and void.

And the ache begins to grow.

It’s cousins with grief.

Aren’t Christians always happy?

Have we stepped out of God’s will if we aren’t?

No.

Jesus also knew sorrow, suffering, rejection, and I have a feeling he also knew discouragement.

Great men of faith of our day have known discouragement.

[Billy Graham quote image]

The fact that Billy Graham fought discouragement makes me feel better. I love how he handled it. “Forgive me” or “Help me.”  Sometimes we need to ask forgiveness when we’re discouraged. we need to repent and change our way of thinking.

Biblical giants also experienced discouragement. One of them was Elijah.

He ran into the desert and sat under a broom tree. (1Kings 19)

“I have had enough Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.”

If you read all of 1 Kings 19 you’ll see that Elijah ran away because he was afraid and discouraged. He had done everything God told him to do, but his circumstances got worse.

Discouragement can blind us to truth. It makes us believe we’ve failed.

Elijah thought he was the only one left who believed in the one true God. But there were seven thousand who still believed.

When we are discouraged and disappointed, we believe we are alone. 

Discouragement tells us God doesn’t care, or we aren’t good enough. We feel like God wants us to be miserable forever.

But none of that is true.

God is Gentle with Us

The rest of Elijah’s story is powerful. After sleep and food, he was sent to the mountain of God where God spoke to him in a gentle, quiet, small whisper. God wasn’t in the wind, or fire, or earthquake but a whisper.

And the voice said to him, “What are you doing here Elijah?”

“Why are you discouraged, my friend?”

I’m here today to remind you that He’s got it. We are in the midst of a battle, but God is on our side. All we need to do is stand in our faith, but we also need to wear the right armor to fight.

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” (Ephesians 6: 10-11).

What to Wear When Discouraged

Discouragement pierces our hearts like a flaming arrow if we aren’t prepared; therefore, we need to wear the armor of God.

  1. The belt of Truth.
  2. The breastplate of Righteousness.
  3. Good (News) Shoes
  4. Helmet of Salvation (Protect your thoughts!)
  5. Shield of Faith
  6. Sword of the Spirit (The Word of God)

Don’t Do Faith Alone

“The shield of faith is not just for personal protection. The Roman soldiers had a strategy of joining their shields together. If we join our shields—that is, strengthen each other with our faith, building up and serving as we are able—we will be able to take on any challenge.” Lifehopeandtruth.com

Isn’t that cool! The shield was the piece of the armor designed to connect with others.  OUR faith is the same. We are stronger together. Join a small group in church, or join a group like the FB Gabbin’ Girls Inspiration page. You are not alone.

 

Locking Shields,

Andy

P.S. If you would like more encouragement on this topic, follow my YouTube channel to watch the teachings on this series.

 

 

Andy Lee is a blogger, Bible teacher, inspirational speaker, and new author of two books, The Book of Ruth Key Word Bible Study: 31 Day Journey to Hope and Promise (AMG), and A Mary Like Me: Flawed yet Called (Leafwood, March 2016). She lives on the coast of North Carolina with her retired soldier husband and their kitty named Hank who keeps their empty nest less empty. Find her words of faith encouragement at FindingPurposeBeyondToday.com.

 

Website/Blog: Finding Purpose Beyond Today www.wordsbyandylee.com

Instagram: @wordsbyandylee

Facebook Community Page: https://www.facebook.com/andyleeauthorpage?ref=hl

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