Rise Above
Discouragement
Jeremiah 20: 7, 9, 11, 13
What is discouragement?
means “to deprive of confidence,
hope, or spirit; dishearten, daunt”
afflict, beat down, demoralize,
depress, dismay, distress and
frighten
Discouragement is part
of life. Discouragement comes
most often when you do right
things but experience poor
results. You work hard, but you
don't make progress. You show
up to practice every day, giving it
your all, but you lose every game.
Discouragement eats a hole in
our hearts. It makes us want to
quit, saying things we shouldn't
say, shaking our fists at God.
it is Jeremiah's rise above
discouragement on which we want to
focus. In this last of his recorded laments,
which is similar to Jesus' Gethsemane
experience, we find the highs and lows of
human emotions: grief and joy, despair
and delight, perplexity and praise. Like
Jesus, Jeremiah reminds us that even a
faithful servant of God can become
discouraged. Jeremiah lived above his
feelings and fulfilled God's will.
We, too, can rise above discouragement.
I. Be honest - tell God
how you feel (Jeremiah
20:7)
II. Be obedient - keep doing
what you've been called to
do (Jeremiah 20:9)
III. Be watchful - know that
the Lord is with you
(Jeremiah 20:11)
IV. Be worshipful - praise
God with your whole heart
(Jeremiah 20:13)
I. Be honest - tell God how you
feel (Jeremiah 20:7 )
Jeremiah was honest. He felt deceived by God. The
word deceived means to be enticed or seduced.
Obviously, God does not mislead or trick people, but
Jeremiah felt that God had lured him into the ministry
only to make him a laughingstock.
He felt like a helpless who had been seduced and
overpowered by a deceptive lover. He felt ridiculed
and offended. His voice was not making a difference.
He was crying out for the people to repent, yet they
continued toward destruction and judgment.
Jeremiah's intense lament was private – for God alone,
not public.
God wants us to talk to him, even when we
are angry, upset, and frustrated. He wants us
to tell the truth. A lot of dishonesty goes on
in relationships, even with God.
We should do the
same. Hold nothing
back when you pray.
Tell the Lord exactly
what's in your heart,
especially the bad
feelings. By pouring out
these emotions we are
freed from their hold,
and we enter more
deeply into the loving
embrace of the Lord.
II. Be obedient - keep doing what
you've been called to do
(Jeremiah 20: 9)
Because of Pashhur's unjustified actions, Jeremiah
was ready to let go of God and leave him out of all
conversations. But he couldn't do that. He would not
be at peace doing anything else. God's message
was like a fire in his bones that he could not put out.
He could not be quiet about it. Jeremiah did not
preach because he had to say something, but
because he had something to say. Not saying it
would have destroyed him.
Do you know why most pastors
keep at the task despite rejection
and anger?
Plain and simple, the
call of God upon their
lives keeps them
going.
When you are called,
you can't ignore that call.”
How to know if one has a call to the
ministry?
Four QUESTIONS to evaluate if one has a call to
the ministry …
1. Is there confirmation from God and by
others?
2. Are instructionalFour
shepherding and
QUESTIONS to evaluate
leadership abilities evident?
3. Is there a longing to serve God with one's
whole heart?
4. Is there a lifestyle of integrity?
When called, obey.
Obedience is difficult
and painful, yet
supposing disobedience
is more so.
III. Be watchful - know that the
Lord is with you (Jeremiah 20:11)
Jeremiah realized that he wasn't alone.
"But the LORD is with me like a violent
warrior" (Jer. 20:11). He was not on the
losing side. He was going to win
because the Lord was with him like a
mighty warrior. God would deal
effectively, in his own way and time,
with his enemies.
Knowledge of God's presence
can help us accomplish significant
things despite our
discouragement. It provides
courage, valor, guts, strength,
tenacity, and perseverance.
Living in the glow of God's presence will
enable you to fight on despite
discouragement.
A. W. Tozer
IV. Be worshipful - praise God with
your whole heart (Jeremiah 20:13)
Jeremiah's despair turned to joy, his
defeated attitude turned to triumph, his
dismay to courage. The key that unlocked
the door to victory was praise. Jeremiah
triumphantly proclaimed, "Sing to the Lord!
Praise the Lord" (Jer. 20:13).
Praise does four things:
A. Praise recognizes a Provider
Praise takes our minds off our situation and
focuses them on God.
B. Praise acknowledges a plan
A few chapters later Jeremiah records God's words to
Israel: "'For I know the plans I have for you' - this is the
LORD's declaration – 'plans for your welfare, not for
disaster, to give you a future and a hope" (29:11). God
weaves a tapestry of our lives. We don't always see the
finished product. Sometimes to get to the end we
have our share of difficulties. When we realize God has
a plan, we have two options: we can fight it, or we
can embrace it.
C. Praise accepts the present
We praise God, not for what we expect will
happen in our life around us, but we praise him
for who He is and where and how we are right
now.
D. Praise releases the power
Prayer opens the door for God's power to move into our
lives. But the prayer of praise releases more of God's
power than any other form of petition.
Yet You are the holy God, ruling from your throne and
praised by Israel (Psalm 22:3 ).
A. Praise recognizes a Provider
B. Praise acknowledges a plan
C. Praise accepts the present
D. Praise releases the power
Be honest - tell God how
you feel?
Be obedient - keep doing
what you've been called
to do?
Be watchful - know that the
Lord is with you?
Be worshipful - praise God
with your whole heart?
