When Discouragement Comes Knocking

Disappointment and discouragement are often bedfellows – or at least siblings.  The first one often has something to do with people, and the other often has something to do with circumstances.  Both usually stem from unmet or sidetracked expectations, and expectations are more often than not our worst enemies.

 
I’m usually not discouraged, though I have been disappointed many times.  But lately I’ve been working through some life circumstances that have made it easy to go there.  Last night I was reminded of an old Phil Keaggy song about disappointment that seems to also apply to discouragement:

Disappointment – His appointment

Change one letter, then I see 

That the thwarting of my purpose
Is God's better choice for me

His appointment must be blessing
Though it may come in disguise
For the end from the beginning
Open to His wisdom lies

Disappointment - His appointment
No good thing will he withhold
From denials oft we gather
Treasures from His love untold

Well, He knows each broken purpose
Leads to fuller deeper trust
And the end of all His dealings
Proves our God is wise and just

Such wisdom for daily living in this little song!  When I think about changing just one letter of discouragement, I remember where my courage is supposed to come from.  It’s not even my courage – it’s God’s!  One of the verses God gave to me years ago is Deuteronomy 31:8 – “Do not be afraid or discouraged.  For the Lord will personally go ahead of you.  He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.”  This verse tells me that fear and discouragement can and should be overcome by the simple knowledge of God’s constant presence in my life. 

Knowing that God is always present with me – Immanuel, and trusting his presence above anything else I can see, I am able to find my courage not within myself but from God himself.  The enemy wants me to look at my circumstances; but God wants me to look at Him!  And he wants me to trust that no matter what it looks like from my perspective, what he allows in our lives is always for our best and for his glory.  I may not always like everything he allows, but I don’t ever have to worry about whether he loves me or is always with me as I walk through it.  Today I choose God’s courage in me instead of the enemy’s discouragement!