Overcome Discouragement

John 16:33 (NKJV) These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+16%3A33&version=NKJV

When someone harasses you because they know you love God, what do you do?

Example from scripture

One example in Scripture is shown when an unnamed psalmist is taunted by his enemies. He said, “My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?” (Psalm 42:3)

Remembering being with God’s people and worshiping God

The psalmist remembered going to the temple and how good it was to be there. He recalled having “a voice of joy and praise” and how it came easily because he was “with a multitude that kept holy day” (Psalm 42:4).

Know the struggles and challenges are real

Now he faced a threat to his faith. He needed to use what he had learned about God at the temple in his real-life circumstance. Psalms 42 and 43 tell us how he took advantage of God’s strength in the midst of his crisis.

“I would have been fine,” he may have thought, if he didn’t have any problems. Life being what it is, a troubling situation arose. People knew he loved God and worshiped Him. Now they watched to see how he would handle his difficulty.

Ridicule and persecution -Real and imagined

As his “hornet’s nest” dilemma continued, people started ridiculing him. The psalmist began “sweating”. He said, “Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of Thy waterspouts: all Thy waves and Thy billows are gone over me” (Psalm 42:7). At one point he imagined the whole nation against him. “Judge me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation: O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man” (Psalm 43:1).

While the predicament persisted, his faith wavered. “I will say unto God my rock, Why hast Thou forgotten me? Why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?” (Psalm 42:9).

Our Help comes from God

Battling depression he cried out to God. “As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after Thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?” (Psalm 42:1-2)

Remind Yourself of God’s goodness

While he was in prayer, he reminded himself who God is and what He had done for him in the past. He is the living God (Psalm 42:2). God gives light and truth (Psalm 43:3). God gave him the help of His countenance (Psalm 42:5). He called God “my rock” (Psalm 42:9); “my strength” (Psalm 43;2); “my exceeding joy” (Psalm 43:4); and “the God of my life” (Psalm 42:8).

As he gathered strength from God and His resources, he gave himself “pep talks.” This recharged his spiritual batteries. He asked himself, “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me?” He told himself to “hope in God: for I shall yet praise Him, Who is the health of my countenance, and my God” (Psalm 43:5).

Living as an overcomer

The next time you feel like someone is squeezing the spiritual life out of you, remember God hears silent as well as spoken prayers of distress. We can call out to Him anywhere and anytime. Then you can say with the psalmist, “Yet the LORD will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night His song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life” (Psalm 42:8).

Shirley Logsdon

Further reading on treadingwater: https://www.treadingwatertiljesuscomes.com/2018/12/21/on-the-run/