Discouragement is universal. No one is exempt from the dark cloud it casts over our lives. Great men of God like David, Job, Jeremiah, and even Jesus became discouraged. Discouragement can take many forms and be caused by many things.

Family Matters. Possibly a marriage is not working out as the man and woman had hoped and dreamed that it would. Children may cause concern and constant anxiety to parents. There may be illness of loved ones, financial insecurity, etc.

Moral Failure. In the battle between the flesh and spirit, many times the flesh keeps winning. One may have, among other things, a weakness to alcohol, drugs, sex, dishonesty or laziness. When we lose a battle, we lose heart and often become discouraged.

Spiritual Matters. For example, there are wives who try to keep the lamp of faith burning in spite of the unbelief of a husband who has no interest in spiritual things. It could be that one becomes stagnant in his spiritual growth and his zeal begins to wane -- Christ may not mean as much as He did or as He should, prayer seems to get him nowhere, church attendance seems flat and worship assemblies are boring. Some get discouraged because their convictions for truth cause them to be at odds with relatives or friends.

We must remember that others before us have had their disappointments and discouragements also. Jeremiah was met with almost unimaginable discouragements (Jer 9:2). Yet, in spite of all his longings to leave, he stood at his post of duty through the weary years, faithful to God even to the last. Jesus and His apostles faced many discouragements. Discouragement will come. We must know how to deal with it.

Jesus is our perfect example as we live our lives before God (1 Pet 2:21), the proper standard for conduct and attitudes. The apostle Paul encouraged the members of the church in Corinth to imitate him as he imitated Christ (1 Cor 11:1). While He was on the earth, Jesus had to face discouragements. We must ask, "How did Jesus handle His discouragements?" In learning how He dealt with them, we can learn how we ought to react to those discouragements that come our way. The following are some ways that Jesus dealt with those things that disappointed and discouraged Him.

He Did Not Give Up. Jesus recognized that the key to any situation was in Him, not in the obstacles He faced. Discouragement, you see, is a condition of mind not one of outside circumstances. Happiness does not depend upon where you are but upon what you are. Keeping in good spirit is not a question of circumstances about us but, rather, a question of what we are within ourselves.

He Took a Wider View. The higher up you are, the farther you can see. Jesus saw things from the Godward side and that side is not discouraging. He encouraged His disciples to have that same perspective. In John 4:35, He told them to "lift up your eyes." No matter what happens in our lives, all will ultimately turn out well if we are faithful in doing the Lord's will. The promise is made to faithful Christians in Rom 8:28, that "all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."

He Kept Working. When He was blocked in one direction, Jesus patiently looked in another. When nothing was left for Him to do but to die, He went to the cross willingly and confidently. Sometimes in life, things may not turn out as we have planned or as we would like them to and we may feel like giving up. Whenever you feel that way, look to Jesus and follow His example. Keep doing the will of God. Persevere with all your heart.

He Always Prayed. When faced with a crisis situation, Jesus gained strength through prayer unto His Father (Matt 14:23; Luke 5:16; 6:12; Matt 26:36-42). In times of despondency, discouragement and disappointment, prayer is the answer.

In the midst of many discouragements, Jesus calmly, serenely and thoughtfully, kept right on proclaiming the great truths of heaven, doing the will of God and living the proper life. So must we. "And let us not be weary in well doing; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not" (Gal 6:9).

Eric