Discouragement is a loss of confidence, and enthusiasm. This sense of dispiritedness makes highly productive people less effective, it dampens motivation, puts courageous people into solitary confinement, and it is often the doorway to depression. Discouragement ails every breathing living human being regardless of their status in life. It attacks the rich as well as the poor, the educated as well as the less educated, the highly spiritual, the less spiritual as well as the godless. It is no respecter of persons.

            Discouragement is largely caused by missed expectation. In other words, when our expectation of a person (including oneself) or a thing does not fall through discouragement is caused. To overcome discouragement you must express them to God, avoid second guessing yourself, and know that God has not changed His mind about you.

            A major event that occurred in the life of John the Baptist clearly demonstrates how discouragement can sneak in on the finest people. “Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me” (Matthew 11:2-6).

            John the Baptist knew the Lord Jesus more than anyone did. He had the double honor of introducing the Lord Jesus Christ to Israel and baptizing Him in the Jordan river. John the Baptist has found himself in prison, however, the Lord Jesus was in town and was aware of the situation. More likely, John expected that he could not be in jail giving his relationship with Jesus, and Jesus’ power to deliver as well as judge the world. At this point John the Baptist was becoming discouraged, and he began to question his convictions about Jesus Christ as the Messiah and the savior of the world.

            What do you do when your expectation of the person you love (Husband, Wife, Child, Friend) seems disappointing? Do you throw out of the window all the delightful convictions you have of them. What do you do when your expectation of yourself seems disappointing? Do you give up on yourself by discarding all the convictions of greatness that you know about yourself, and conclude that there is nothing good in you? It is critical that a person exercises extreme caution in judgement during the time when an expectation doesn’t fall through. Some shallow Christians have lost their confidence in the word of God and in prayer due to some expectations that did not fall through, but fine Christians often say with Job; “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him”(Job 13:15).

            Discouragement often make a person to second guess him/herself. It challenges your conviction of what you once knew to be true. At the baptism of Jesus Christ, John the Baptist saw the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove descending upon Jesus, and he heard the Father’s voice from Heaven saying; this is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased (Matthew 3:16-17). Therefore, John knew without a shred of doubt that Jesus was the Messiah. However, his situation made him to second guess his own conviction. Discouragement will make one to question not only the faithfulness of God but also His ability to protect, provide and prosper. Thus, we must recognize and dismiss discouragement without delay.

            We must learn to take our discouragement to God. It doesn’t matter how disappointed, frustrated, and discouraged we should learn to vent them on God, rather than to allow the situation to drive us away from God. John the Baptist, showed us a great way to overcome discouragement. He neither sat down to murmur and complain nor allow that sense of discouragement to linger, fester, and consume him. Instead, he sent two of his disciple to Jesus to express how he feels. In the same way, the Prophet Elijah, feared for his life and became so discouraged a day after he had prayed down fire from Heaven. Jezebel had threatened to behead him. He went to God to vent his frustration, disappointment, and discouragement. In fact, what was meant to be a low point in his life rather turned to be the highest point in his walk with God as he embarked on a forty days of fasting (1Kings 19:1-8).

            Upon hearing from the messengers of John, Jesus sent an encouraging reply to John, and also took the time to testify about John to His audience. Although John the Baptist was in prison but he was not forgotten. You might be at your lowest point in life but God had neither changed His mind about you nor His plans for you.

            Whatever is the source or the reason of your discouragement run to God, call upon Him and know that He will turn your mourning into dancing. Do not allow discouragement to consume you and empty out your enthusiasm and abilities. Truly, If you have not surrendered your life to Jesus Christ as your Lord and personal savior, it will be difficult to overcome the destructive spirit of discouragement. However, you can invite Him in to your life today. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me (Revelation 3:20).  

​

​

​

​

​

​