Models for Combating Discouragement

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. (Psalm 73:26)

Literally the verb is simply fail, not “may fail.” This God-besotted psalmist, Asaph, says, “My flesh and my heart fail!” I am despondent! I am discouraged! But then immediately he fires a broadside against his despondency: “But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”

The psalmist does not yield to discouragement. He battles unbelief with counterattack.

In essence, he says, “In myself I feel very weak and helpless and unable to cope. My body is shot, and my heart is almost dead. But whatever the reason for this despondency, I will not yield. I will trust God and not myself. He is my strength and my portion.”

The Bible is replete with instances of saints struggling with sunken spirits. Psalm 19:7 says, “The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul.” This is a clear admission that the soul of the saint sometimes needs to be revived. And if it needs to be revived, in a sense it was “dead.” That’s the way it felt.

David says the same thing in Psalm 23:2–3, “He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul.” The soul of the “man after [God’s] own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14) needs to be restored. It was dying of thirst and ready to fall exhausted, but God led the soul to water and gave it life again.

God has put these testimonies in the Bible so that we might use them to fight the unbelief of despondency. And we fight with the blast of faith in God’s promises: “God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” We preach that to ourselves. And we thrust it into Satan’s face. And we believe it.

John Piper 

 

Guard the Place You’re Strongest

“Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.”

PROVERBS 4:23

 

PONDER THIS

If you study the great saints of God, you find out they failed at their point of strength, not weakness. What was Simon Peter’s greatest strength? His courage. In Luke 22:33, he said, “Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death.” He was the one who pulled out a sword and went after the man in the garden of Gethsemane. (See John 18:10.) Peter had physical courage and strength. You wouldn’t want to get in a fistfight with Peter. He was a big and tough fisherman. And yet where did he fail? At the point of his courage. Those who identified him as one of Jesus’ disciples prompted him to curse and deny the Lord Jesus Christ. (See Matthew 26:74-75.) We must be careful that it is not our own strength we rely on and boast in. Proverbs 4:23 reminds us we must guard our hearts with diligence. If we don’t, we’ll trust in the place where we will certainly fail.

Where are you most tempted to rely on your own strength?

When have you failed because you trusted in your own strength over God’s strength?

PRACTICE THIS

Write out a list of your personal strengths. Take time to reflect on this list and thank God for the ways He has gifted you, then ask Him to help you guard your heart against trusting in yourself over Him.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Enduring When Obeying Hurts

Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross. (Hebrews 12:2)

What faith performs is sometimes unspeakably hard.

In his book Miracle on the River Kwai, Ernest Gordon tells the true story of a group of POWs working on the Burma Railway during World War II.

At the end of each day the tools were collected from the work party. On one occasion a Japanese guard shouted that a shovel was missing and demanded to know which man had taken it. He began to rant and rave, working himself up into a paranoid fury and ordered whoever was guilty to step forward. No one moved. “All die! All die!” he shrieked, cocking and aiming his rifle at the prisoners. At that moment one man stepped forward and the guard clubbed him to death with his rifle while he stood silently to attention. When they returned to the camp, the tools were counted again and no shovel was missing.

What can sustain the will to die for others, when you are innocent? Jesus was carried and sustained in his love for us by “the joy that was set before him.” He banked on a glorious future blessing and joy, and that carried and sustained him in love through his suffering.

Woe to us if we think we should or can be motivated and strengthened for radical, costly obedience by some higher motive than the joy that is set before us. When Jesus called for costly obedience that would require sacrifice in this life, he said in Luke 14:14, “You will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.” In other words, be strengthened now in all your losses for Christ’s sake, because of the joy set before you.

Peter said that, when Jesus suffered without retaliating, he was leaving us an example to follow — and that includes Jesus’s confidence in the joy set before him. He handed his cause over to God (1 Peter 2:21) and did not try to settle accounts with retaliation. He banked his hope on the resurrection and all the joys of reunion with his Father and the redemption of his people. So should we.

John Piper

God Strengthens Us Through Others

“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” (Luke 22:31–32)

What about the other ten apostles (not counting Judas)?

Satan was going to sift them too. Did Jesus pray for them?

Yes he did. But he did not ask the Father to guard their faith in the very same way he guarded Peter’s.

God broke the back of Peter’s pride and self-reliance that night in the agony of Satan’s sieve. But he did not let him go. He turned him around and forgave him and restored him and strengthened his faith. And now it was Peter’s mission to strengthen the other ten. “And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”

Jesus provided for the ten by providing for Peter. The strengthened becomes the strengthener.

There is a great lesson here for us. Sometimes God will deal with you directly, strengthening your faith alone in the wee hours of the morning when everyone else is asleep. But most of the time (we might say ten-elevenths of the time) God strengthens our faith through another person.

God sends us some Simon Peter who brings just the word of grace we need to keep on in the faith: some testimony about how “Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning” (Psalm 30:5).

Eternal security is a community project. Whenever God encourages your heart with the promise that in Satan’s sifting your faith will not fail, then take that encouragement and double your joy by using it to strengthen your brothers and sisters — with the very strength with which you have been strengthened.

John Piper 

Do You Have a Divided Heart?

PRAY OVER THIS

“And the lords of the Philistines came up to her and said to her, ‘Entice him, and find out where his great strength lies, and by what means we may overpower him, that we may bind him to afflict him; and every one of us will give you eleven hundred pieces of silver.’ So Delilah said to Samson, ‘Please tell me where your great strength lies, and with what you may be bound to afflict you.’”

Judges 16:5-6

 

PONDER THIS

What was the secret of Samson’s strength? Sometimes when we think of Samson, we envision the Incredible Hulk, but he wasn’t that way. Had you seen Samson you would not have known he was that strong. He didn’t have mountains of muscles and bulging biceps. This is why Delilah kept asking for the secret of his strength. There was something supernatural about it. His strength was in the power of God. The Bible says the Holy Spirit would come on him and that gave him his physical strength (Judges 14:6). He is an illustration and a lesson to all of us who need the spiritual strength of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

What is tragic about Samson is that the Spirit of God was on him and yet he gave way to the appetites of the flesh. He fought the Lord’s battles by day and broke the Lord’s commandments by night. But he could not keep up that double life for long. His appetite for the flesh was destructive and led to his demise. We must be careful with this struggle: we cannot live a double life for God, asking Him to give us His power on one hand but living for selfish desires on the other.

What are some ways you have seen God’s strength in your life?

When have you given in to the appetites of the flesh? How did that affect your relationship with God?

PRACTICE THIS

Brain story with a friend the ways you can rely on God and battle against the appetites of the flesh.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Your Problems Are Not Too Big for God

PRAY OVER THIS

“Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, ‘Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?’ But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do. Philip answered Him, ‘Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little.’”

(John 6:5-7)

 

PONDER THIS

A little boy was trying to roll over a rock, and his father was amused as he watched his son. The little boy was grunting, straining, heaving, and sighing, but he couldn’t turn the stone over. His dad, with a whimsical smile on his face, said, “Son, are you using all of your strength?” He said, “Yes, daddy, I’m using all of my strength.” And the dad said, “No, you’re not, because you have not asked me to help you. I am your daddy, and my strength is your strength.”

Sometimes we have problems that we’re wrestling with, and we say, “I don’t know what to do. I’m at the end of my rope. I have run out of my strength.” If that’s the case, then run to God! He is there. The Lord Jesus was trying to get Philip to say, “This is a problem. It may be too big for me, but it’s not too big for You!”

Some of you reading these words today have serious problems. I want to ask you a question. Is your problem big to God? Of course not! He is the Lord. He asks, “I’m the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?” (Jeremiah 32:27). So put this in your heart and mind and get it down straight: There is no problem too big for Jesus to solve. Do you believe that?

 

What are some problems you are facing that feel too big for Jesus?

 

When have you sought God’s strength in a difficult time? What was that like?

PRACTICE THIS

Encourage a friend who is going through a difficult time. Point that person toward God’s strength.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

We Are Spiritually Paralyzed

PRAY OVER THIS

“For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.”

(Romans 5:6)

 

PONDER THIS

Many of us do not realize we are spiritually paralyzed. You may think, I’m not weak: I lift weights; I’m very strong. I’m not talking about physical weakness. You may think, I’m not weak: I have a PhD. I’m not talking about intellectual weakness. You may think, I’m not weak: I have a million dollars in the bank. I’m not talking about financial weakness. I’m talking about spiritual weakness that has paralyzed you.

Our weakness is that we don’t have the strength to be godly. God’s plan for all of us is that we be godly. But we don’t have the strength. I don’t care how hard you try: you don’t have what it takes to be godly. You may be strong to do as you want, but you’re not strong to do as you ought. While we were yet without strength, Christ died for the ungodly. The primary source of our weakness is sin, the paralyzing force of our sin is that we cannot be what God would have us to be. But Christ has died for us in our greatest weakness.

What are some weaknesses you often feel? Why do you think we often forget about our spiritual weakness?

How can you seek to be godly in God’s strength?

PRACTICE THIS

Pray for someone you know who needs to work in God’s strength.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Are You Strengthened by God?

PRAY OVER THIS

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10

 

PONDER THIS

As a teen, I prayed and asked the Lord Jesus Christ to come into my heart and my life. I know I would never have made it had it not been for the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which not only saved me but also strengthened me. And I am being saved day by day. Salvation is a crisis when you trust Christ, but it is a crisis followed by a process as He pours His life into you day by day. Those of you who are saying, “Well, I’d like to be saved, but I’m afraid I can’t live it”—you can’t. I can’t live it. Nobody has ever lived the Christian life but Jesus Christ. But He will live it in you and through you. I promise you on the authority of the Word of God, if you trust Jesus Christ, He will come into your heart. He will give you a new nature. Believe it and be saved. Believe it and be strengthened.

Isn’t it great that we can be saved? Isn’t it better that we can be saved and know it? It is thrice wonderful that we can be saved and know that we’re saved and know that we can never, ever lose it. I am secured by the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. I stand amazed. I stand assured. I stand secured and strengthened by the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

How has God strengthened your faith?

Have you ever been overwhelmed trying to live the Christian life on your own power? Why won’t that work?

PRACTICE THIS

Write down a list of ways you’d like to grow in your faith. Ask God to help you grow.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

God Strengthens Us Through Others

“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” (Luke 22:31–32)

What about the other ten apostles (not counting Judas)?

Satan was going to sift them too. Did Jesus pray for them?

Yes he did. But he did not ask the Father to guard their faith in the very same way he guarded Peter’s.

God broke the back of Peter’s pride and self-reliance that night in the agony of Satan’s sieve. But he did not let him go. He turned him around and forgave him and restored him and strengthened his faith. And now it was Peter’s mission to strengthen the other ten. “And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”

Jesus provided for the ten by providing for Peter. The strengthened becomes the strengthener.

There is a great lesson here for us. Sometimes God will deal with you directly, strengthening your faith alone in the wee hours of the morning when everyone else is asleep. But most of the time (we might say ten-elevenths of the time) God strengthens our faith through another person.

God sends us some Simon Peter who brings just the word of grace we need to keep on in the faith: some testimony about how “Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning” (Psalm 30:5).

Eternal security is a community project. Whenever God encourages your heart with the promise that in Satan’s sifting your faith will not fail, then take that encouragement and double your joy by using it to strengthen your brothers and sisters — with the very strength with which you have been strengthened.

John Piper 

Are You Relying on Your Strength?

PRAY OVER THIS

“Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.”

(Proverbs 4:23)

 

PONDER THIS

If you study the great saints of God, you find out they failed at their point of strength, not weakness. What was Simon Peter’s greatest strength? His courage. In Luke 22:33, he said, “Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death.” He was the one who pulled out a sword and went after the man in the garden of Gethsemane. (See John 18:10.) Peter had physical courage and strength. You wouldn’t want to get in a fistfight with Peter. He was a big and tough fisherman. And yet where did he fail? At the point of his courage. Those who identified him as one of Jesus’ disciples prompted him to curse and deny the Lord Jesus Christ. (See Matthew 26:74-75.) We must be careful that it is not our own strength we rely on and boast in. Proverbs 4:23 reminds us we must guard our hearts with diligence. If we don’t, we’ll trust in the place where we will certainly fail.

Where are you most tempted to rely on your own strength?

When have you failed because you trusted in your own strength over God’s strength?

PRACTICE THIS

Write out a list of your personal strengths. Take time to reflect on this list and thank God for the ways He has gifted you, then ask Him to help you guard your heart against trusting in yourself over Him.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

God’s Strength in Our Weakness

PRAY OVER THIS

“And Saul said to David, ‘You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.’” 1 Samuel 17:33

 

PONDER THIS

What would have happened that day if the Philistines had a giant and the Israelites had a giant and the Israelite giant went out and beat the Philistine giant? What would that have proven? Not a thing in the world, just another Super Bowl, that's all. Here’s their champion and here’s our champion: they go out and it is a toss-up as to who will win. Who is the strongest? But now suppose, a junior high school team goes to Chicago and plays the Bears. They say, “We're coming in the name of Jehovah,” and they win the battle. What do you think people in Chicago are going to think? It was the very weakness of David and the Israelites that highlighted God’s power. The goal in our lives is not to become strong in our own power but to display God’s strength that is working in our weakness.

What are some ways you are tempted to rely on your own strength instead of God’s strength?

How might God use you currently to display His strength?

PRACTICE THIS

Ask God to reveal areas of weakness in your life that He wants to use. Step out in faith, acting obediently in that area, trusting that God will use you to display His strength.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers