The Faithful Surrender

Discouragement is a struggle that every person, including believers, will face at some point in their lives. Even the most faithful of Christians will experience seasons where hope feels distant, prayers seem to go unanswered, and the weight of life presses heavily on the heart. Even when we find ourselves in this state, we have to remember Who it is that we serve! 

Understanding Discouragement
Before we can overcome something, we must first understand what it is. A quick Google search for the word “discouragement” produces this definition: a common human struggle characterized by a loss of courage, confidence, and hope, often resulting from fear, fatigue, or disappointment. Based on this definition, we can conclude that discouragement is something that can be found at every turn if we choose to look for it, especially in today’s world. It’s important for us to note, however, that discouragement is not something that comes from God. He may use a time of discouragement in order to work something out for our good, but He is not the source of discouragement. By understanding what discouragement is and where it comes from, we can now look at how to overcome it. 

Remember That God Is Near
One of the most dangerous lies that discouragement leads us to believe is that God is nowhere to be found, that we are abandoned and forsaken. But thankfully, we are assured in God’s word that this is not true. Psalm 34:18 says, “The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; And saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.” When discouragement finds its way into our lives, God does not go away from us–He moves closer. What we feel may vary, but we have to trust in the fact that His presence is constant and He is especially attentive to the hurting. 

Surrender To The Lord
Once we remember that God is near, it is vital that we surrender whatever it is that we’re facing to the Lord. Not only do we need to surrender our circumstance, but we must also surrender ourselves to Him. We must deny ourselves (Luke 9:23). It is easy for us to become so involved in our circumstance that we start slacking in our faith. We try to remedy our situations on our own rather than hand it over to the One who holds our future. If you’re anything like me, you progressively make things worse when you try to fix things on your own. Truthfully, we get tired of people telling us that we need to give our problems to the Lord. When we are in crisis, we want practical remedies and solutions and we want them right then. The last time someone told me that I just needed to surrender what I was going through to the Lord, I got upset because I’d heard that so much and it never really worked for me, so I did not want to hear it anymore. But, as I thought about how pitiful it was that I got upset over it, I realized that surrender was the only thing that I hadn’t truly done to fix the problem and that’s when it really grabbed ahold of me. So, I surrendered myself and my problem to God, and I found peace. I am still praying about the problem and faithfully seeking the Lord in its regard, but the lesson learned was that in surrender, we find peace, even if the solution that we think we need doesn’t come right away. Surrendering our problem to God is more practical than we think.

When we give the discouraging situation to God, we won’t always get immediate results. While it’s easy to allow that in itself to discourage us, we must realize that even through our hurting, even through our discomfort, or pain, there’s something to gain!

Please, hear me, there’s a better alternative to entertaining our discouragement and it’s found in our faithful surrender to our God! 

Take the time and digest this passage of scripture:

“Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” -‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭5‬:‭5‬-‭11‬

Don’t Forsake The Valley
The things that we find the hardest are usually the very things that bring us the most growth. How can we know that God can solve our problems if we never have one? Billy Graham put it like this: “Mountain tops are for views and inspiration, but fruit is grown in the valleys.” If we don’t allow ourselves to see the lesson in the trial we will never learn anything. In our circumstances we may be pitiful, we may become desolate, we may hurt, we may cry, and we may suffer, but God is still on our side. We still have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand! Nobody or nothing can take God from us, and He is all that we need!

“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope: and hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.” -Romans‬ ‭5‬:‭1‬-‭6‬

Several days ago now, I wrote the following:

“ One of the hardest things that I’ve ever had to come to terms with is that God knows.
When we’re wrongfully accused, God knows. When we’re misunderstood, God knows.
When we’re frustrated at the goings on around us, God knows. When we are tired, God knows. The hard part? Denying our flesh and staying silent, trusting and waiting on Him. It may be uncomfortable, but without faith, it is impossible to please God. But when we finally do come to terms with it, we’ll find peace in knowing that He knows. “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” -Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭18‬ “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” -Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭7‬.” 

In every situation that we come to face, God knows. There is peace that passes all understanding in knowing that God knows. We just have to come to a realization that God knows, God is working, and His love for us hasn’t changed. When we do, we’ll be unstoppable, but it takes total surrender. 

Combat Discouragement With Encouragement 
If we wait on good news, good luck, or positive action to take place before we become encouraged, we’ll be waiting awhile. I cannot deny that God sends good news and positive action for us when we need it the most, and I am beyond thankful that He does, but we cannot let our encouragement rest only in those things. Our encouragement must rest in our Lord. David encouraged himself in the Lord (1 Samuel 30:6). I’ve found that if I can muster up the strength to pray, to open my Bible, to get into the Presence of God, it won’t take long for me to become encouraged. Those things don’t really come natural to us, though, so we have to ask the Lord for strength, and develop a discipline to do those things so we, too, can encourage ourselves in the Lord. 

Another way I’ve found to encourage myself is by encouraging others, as we are instructed to bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2). One thing we must remember, though, is that if we can speak life to someone else, we must challenge ourselves to do the same in our own situation. We cannot be double-minded, as that will only contribute to our discouragement. We have a good God, and we must remember that He is no respecter of persons, so what He can do for one, He can do for all. So, encourage and be encouraged!

Now, Carry On!
With the condition of our society today, it is so easy to become discouraged. There is so much that we can allow to bother us and bring us down. But, even so, there is so much that we can allow to bring us up. As humans, discouragement is inevitable, but we have to remember that discouragement is not the end of our story. Remember that God is near, surrender to the Lord, don’t forsake the valley, and combat discouragement with encouragement. Now, carry on! May God continue to bless and keep you!