FROM THE MANGER TO THE CROSS
JESUS EXPERIENCED DISCOURAGEMENT

JOHN 16:33
"In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good
cheer; I have over come the world."

Discouragement is universal. No one is exempt from the
dark cloud it casts over our lives. Great men of God--
David, Job, Jeremiah, and even Jesus--became
discouraged.

In ministry we deal every day with people who have
become discouraged and we ourselves are not immune to
the hurt, pain and tears of deep sorrow. As shocking as it
may seem, faithfulness to God and His Word do not
guarantee that one will not become discouraged. As a
matter of fact, the more one is involved in the work of the
Lord, the greater, at times, discouragement will be.
Those who endeavor to teach God's truth or live faithfully
as a Christian encounter many and varied
discouragements.

Discouragement, though is not sin within and of itself.
While it may be defined as to deprive of courage or
confidence, to hinder by disfavoring, to attempt to
dissuade; it may also be defined as deep and sober
concern because of real problems. The person who is
never discouraged is of no real value. The real issues and
grim realities of life are too deep to pretend that nothing
is ever bad enough for heartache and tears. When your
knees buckle from the hurt....let God catch you.

We must remember that others before us have had their
disappointments and discouragements also. Jeremiah was
met with almost unimaginable discouragements, but he did
not give up (Jeremiah. 9:2). Jesus and His apostles faced
many discouragements. But they continued to preach the
gospel and Jesus stayed on the cross until it was finished.
As our association continues to grow, as we continue to see
salvations and bondages broken, you can be certain our
churches will come under attack. "For we do not wrestle
against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against
powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age,
against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be
able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to
stand" (Ephesians 6:12-13 NIV).

Jesus is our perfect example as we live our lives before
God. "For to this you were called, because Christ also
suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should
follow His steps: "Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit
found in His mouth; who, when He was reviled, did not
revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but
committed Himself to Him who judges righteously
(1 Peter 2:21-23 NIV).