COMPORTMENT IN TIMES OF DISCOURAGEMENT

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Life has got its ups and downs,there are good and bad times. Elijah is an example of encouragement,consecration and godliness for believers,he was a man of great courage,mighty prayer,faith and total surrender to God and his service. Despite his courage and strength a day came that he found himself in a perplexing situation that made him despondent and discouraged.

1 Kings 19:2-4
2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.” 3 And when he saw that, he arose and ran for his life, and went to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.
4 But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a [a]broom tree. And he prayed that he might die, and said, “It is enough! Now, Lord, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!”

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This indicates that discouragement ,if allowed can overwhelm us when our expectation in pursuing an idea or project is not realized,no matter how active,strong or energetic we might be.
But amid such situation what should a christian do?

a) Be quiet and don't talk much.

b) Refrain from fault finding.

c) Don't take a major decision in time of discouragement.

d) Be careful of strange friends and sympathizers.

e)Beware of suicidal tendencies.

f)Don't give into self pity and self condemination.

g)Don't open door to demons ,depression and insanity.

WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF DISCOURAGEMENT.

Discouragement is a weapon the devil uses against humanity. It is one of the biggest obstacle to success.many of us could have experienced such moments,here are some causes below;

a) The threat of persecution;discouragement came to Elijah because of the threat of Jezebel in 1 Kings 19 vs 2, even though she didn't show up the next day like she threatened ,this implies that god has a way of protecting his children,so do not panic or worry.

b)Trials and temptation 1 Peter 1 vs 6-7 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ

c) Spiritual dryness; Joy is the most elementary and natural expression of a life lived in close fellowship with God,but when there is spiritual dryness it brings a great deal of pain and despair.

d)Delayed Blessing;delay in answer to prayer and hope deferred brings discouragement.Proverbs 13 vs12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.

e) Loss of properties and goods.

Discouragement takes your gaze and focus away from the Lord,his word and promises.Therefore,you must not give into it.

DIVINE HELP FOR THE DISCOURAGED
Prayer is the best antidote for discouragement .Don't throw caution to the wind during such moments.Learn to pray but also be careful how you pray In Numbers 11 vs 10 -14 Then Moses heard the people weeping throughout their families, everyone at the door of his tent; and the anger of the Lord was greatly aroused; Moses also was displeased. 11 So Moses said to the Lord, “Why have You afflicted Your servant? And why have I not found favor in Your sight, that You have laid the burden of all these people on me? 12 Did I conceive all these people? Did I beget them, that You should say to me, ‘Carry them in your bosom, as a guardian carries a nursing child,’ to the land which You swore to their fathers? 13 Where am I to get meat to give to all these people? For they weep all over me, saying, ‘Give us meat, that we may eat.’ 14 I am not able to bear all these people alone, because the burden is too heavy for me. Moses was a man who had been greatly used by God and had confronted and overcome lots of challenges before this time,but the situation in the above scripture made him perplexed and he prayed ill-advisedly.Don't pray an unwise prayer and don't be in haste to talk when you are discouraged.At such times be like David who although was greatly distressed at a point in his life yet 'encouraged himself in the Lord.He waited on God in prayer and his strength was renewed.
when we pray we receive divine help,when trails seems great,maintain a right attitude by trusting the lord and keep your hope alive in him.

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God turned around his captivity and gave him him twice as much as he had because he had the right mental attitude,good comportment and godly confession in his trials.

Job 42 vs 1 -16 Then Job answered the Lord and said:
2 “I know that You can do everything,And that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You.
3 You asked, ‘Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?’
Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand,Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.
4 Listen, please, and let me speak;You said, ‘I will question you, and you shall answer Me.’
5 “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear,But now my eye sees You.
6 Therefore I abhor myself,And repent in dust and ashes.”
7 And so it was, after the Lord had spoken these words to Job, that the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “My wrath is aroused against you and your two friends, for you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has. 8 Now therefore, take for yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, go to My servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and My servant Job shall pray for you. For I will accept him, lest I deal with you according to your folly; because you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has.”
9 So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went and did as the Lord commanded them; for the Lord had accepted Job. 10 And the Lord restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before. 11 Then all his brothers, all his sisters, and all those who had been his acquaintances before, came to him and ate food with him in his house; and they consoled him and comforted him for all the adversity that the Lord had brought upon him. Each one gave him a piece of silver and each a ring of gold.
12 Now the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; for he had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, one thousand yoke of oxen, and one thousand female donkeys. 13 He also had seven sons and three daughters. 14 And he called the name of the first Jemimah, the name of the second Keziah, and the name of the third Keren-Happuch. 15 In all the land were found no women so beautiful as the daughters of Job; and their father gave them an inheritance among their brothers.
16 After this Job lived one hundred and forty years, and saw his children and grandchildren for four generations. 17 So Job died, old and full of days.

The question is what do you do when you are in a state of despondency? who and where to you run to when you are discouraged? what occupies your mind when you are depressed and all hope seems to be lost?
Don't let discouragement change your life pattern,commitment and faithfulness to God,Don't give into a life of despondency,depression and emitional disturbance.trying time is no time to quit trying,Trust God in your situation and believe he is in control of it.God is aware of what you are going through and he will surely send him to you. Rekindle the flame of lost hope and ignite your hope again.

Are you born again? Don't think all hope is lost,get to know God first,repent from all your sins and accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour,only then can a new life begin,your hope will be restored and life will become meaningful.Don't lose hope,keep it alive,divine help is on the way.

Thank you for your time.
Have a great weekend.