LEANING

43

God Isn’t Discouraged

Don’t give up on your kids, never stop praying, and don’t give in to discouragement, for all discouragement comes from the Devil. Those of us who were problem kids ourselves—and those who have troubled children now—know it takes time, love, prayer, patience, understanding, support, and lots of faith in a God who has warned us against despair. Put the following verses side by side in your heart, and learn to lean:

Then they journeyed from Mount Hor by the Way of the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; and the soul of the people became very discouraged on the way. —NUMBERS 21:4	“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” —JOSHUA 1:9 (NIV)
For when they went up to the Valley of Eshcol and saw the land, they discouraged the heart of the children of Israel, so that they did not go into the land which the LORD had given them. —NUMBERS 32:9	“Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work . . . is finished.” —1 CHRONICLES 28:20 (NIV)
Then the peoples around them set out to discourage the people of Judah and make them afraid to go on building. —EZRA 4:4 (NIV)	This is what the LORD says to you: “Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.” —2 CHRONICLES 20:15 (NIV)
But now trouble comes to you, and you are discouraged; it strikes you, and you are dismayed. Should not your piety be your confidence and your blameless ways your hope? —JOB 4:5–6 (NIV)	For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. . . . God [gives] endurance and encouragement. —ROMANS 15:4–5 (NIV)

During our own period of anxious waiting, one primary source of encouragement has enabled us to press on: God’s reliable Word, “the encouragement of the Scriptures.” In the Bible, God tells us to pray for our children. Consider some of the verses that helped my wife, Katrina, and me cast out discouragement and keep on praying:

As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you.

—1 SAMUEL 12:23

Pour out your heart like water

in the presence of the LORD . . .

for the lives of your children.

—LAMENTATIONS 2:19 (NIV)

They shall come back from the land of the enemy.

There is hope in your future, says the LORD,

That your children will come back to their own border.

—JEREMIAH 31:16–17

I will contend with those who contend with you, and I will save your children.

–ISAIAH 49:25 (NRSV)

I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him.

—1 SAMUEL 1:27 (NIV)

Always pray, and never become discouraged. . . . Keep on praying and never give up.

—LUKE 18:1 (TEV, CEV)

God’s encouragement doesn’t fluctuate with changing winds or shifting tides. He doesn’t tie His enabling to circumstances, and His morale doesn’t depend on moons or moods. Even when we’re faithless, He remains faithful, so recognize discouragement as a guest that has overstayed its welcome and that cannot abide the presence of the heavenly Father. Choose faith over fear, prayer over panic, and abiding trust over anxious care. It isn’t a matter of getting a grip on the situation; it’s a matter of letting God get a grip on you.