Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
Sometimes when we are discouraged we lose our perspective and we view our
situation as worse than it actually is.
“We all live in two environments, the one being the world around us, the
other our thoughts about that world. The larger world cannot affect us
directly, it must be meditated to us by our thoughts, and will be to us at
last only what we allow it to be… External things and events are the raw
material only, the finished product is whatever the mind makes of these.” –
A.W. Tozer
Many of God’s greatest heroes in the Bible suffered from periods of darkness and
discouragement including Elijah, David, Jeremiah and Simon Peter.
Stages of Discouragement
Symptoms of depression:
1. Weight loss or weight gain.
2. Loss of sleep and energy.
3. Lose interest in most or all pleasurable activities.
4. Reduced ability to concentrate.
5. Overcome with feelings of hopelessness or uselessness.
More than 17 million Americans suffer from depression. The resulting
absenteeism and loss of productivity is estimated to cost the American
economy more than $20 billion each year.
Abraham Lincoln, whose a “House Divided Against Itself” speech helped win
him the presidency, knew all too well in his own life the awful divisiveness of
doubt and depression. As a young man he wrote, “I am now the most miserable
man living. Whether I shall ever be better, I cannot tell. I fear I shall not.”
After his amazing journey to the moon, astronaut Buzz Aldrin found that he was
unable to cope with the life to which he returned and he suffered for years with
terrible depression!
Charles Haddon Spurgeon, one of the greatest preachers of all time, known for his
outstanding ability to communicate God’s Word, his sparkling wit and quick
humor, who addressed crowds of 5,000 people by age 30, suffered a lifetime
battle with depression. “My success,” he writes, “appalled me and the thought of
that career which seem.
Jesus Himself said his followers would have suffering in this world (John 16:33)
Our “testing” is to prove something to ourselves and others, God already knows!
Max Lucado puts its well when he says, “God likes you just the way you
are but He loves you too much to let you stay that way!”
Or if you see that another is overwhelmed, it is time for you to share their
burdens.
God is patient with prodigal prophets.
Chuck Swindoll writes, “Self-pity mauls its way inside our minds
like a beast and claws us to shreds.”
We should turn our concerns over to God and trust that He will respond
with love.
Sometimes we may need to re-evaluate our situation to rediscover our faith, purpose
and calling. (1 Kings 19:9b)
Solitude in a place of sanctuary can help us focus on worship and better hear God’s
voice. (Ps. 91:1)
God’s guidance and blessing often comes in quiet ways to a still and listening
heart. (Ps. 46:10)
“But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew [their] strength; they shall mount
up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; [and] they shall walk,
and not faint.” (Isa. 40:31)
God’s presence is the one constant in life. (Ps. 139:7-10; Joshua 1:9; Isaiah 41:10;
42:5& 11; 43:2; Jer. 1:8; Heb. 13:5; Rom. 4:20-24, Num. 6:26)
When allied troops were making their way across Europe to cross Hitler’s
forces, they came across a bombed out building that had this inscription
scrawled on a basement wall:
God is faithful/trustworthy (Deut. 7:9; Isa. 49:7; 1 Cor. 1:9; 10:13; Heb. 10:23; 2
Thess. 3:3; 1 Thess. 5:24; Titus 1:2; 2 Tim. 2:13; John 1:9)