It is easy to become disappointed in our day to day lives. But discouragement? Normally we tend to think of discouragement as a step beyond disappointment. Today as I was thinking and praying about this, something struck me about the words rolling off my tongue. I decided to really look at the words.
Disappointment: From the Modern French “undo the appointment, remove from office”. The modern sense of the word “to frustrate expectations” came from the secondary meaning of “fail to keep an appointment”. Disappointment seems to happen when something is taken away. We don’t have much say in the matter. Disappointments come when we lose something. We are disappointed for a season, but in time we move on.
Discouragement is quite different. I don’t know as I had ever thought of the word this way before today. It makes sense if you think about it. Discouraged – “to deprive of courage or hope.” It is more than just a
little sadness. We are deprived of courage and hope. But, this is not something which can be done TO us. This is, instead, something we do to ourselves. It is an act of our will.
Scripture supports this thought. In Joshua chapter one, God says multiple times “be strong and courageous”. He is saying that it is within your power to choose to be courageous. Yet, how easily we
allow ourselves to be “dis”-couraged. He is saying “be brave”. He is saying “be strong”. He is saying “don’t lose heart”. How can He say that? Because He sees the bigger picture. He knew that there were giants when He told Joshua and Caleb to go in and take the land. But He is God. I love the passage in Romans 8:28 that says “and we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” But keep reading….v. 31 says “what then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” We have no reason to lose heart or give up or be “dis”-couraged. He’s got it. Whatever it is – He sees and He knows.
I am going to include a lyric here. This is perhaps one of the favorite songs I have written. It came from a dark and lonely and hard place. I was trying to trust God with it all, but I wanted to give away my courage. As I wrote this song, God healed my heart. Much of the passion in this song is in the music and vocals so if you would like an audio file of this, send me a request in the comments below and I will get you a copy. I hope the lyrics give you courage if you have given yours away.
Faith
Becky Thurman/Geoff Thurman
A farmer looks at fields burnt dry in the blazing sun
Waiting for the gentle summer rain
Faith is the substance of things hoped for
The evidence of things not seen
A broken missionary kneeling on his cottage floor
Crying for the workers in the field
Faith is the substance of things hoped for
The evidence of things not seen
A man and wife laying quietly in bed each night
Longing for a baby of their own
Faith is the substance of things hoped for
The evidence of things not seen
One young child listens to the slamming of the door
And wonders who will put Mommy and Daddy back together again
Faith is the substance of things hoped for
The evidence of things not seen
Chorus -
If our God can see the tiny sparrow fall
And He crafted every lily of the field
How much more do His children touch His heart
Yahweh hears and He knows every need before you ask
A common man works from dawn into the night to pay the bills
With barely enough food for the five of them to eat
What will he do
Faith is the substance of things hoped for
The evidence of things not seen
The pastor and his wife down at the altar shedding tears
Pleading for the souls placed in their care
Faith is the substance of things hoped for
The evidence of things not seen
Repeat Chorus
Copyright 1990 Meadowgreen Music Company (a div of EMI Christian Music Group) ASCAP