2. How to overcome discouragement I can do all things through Christ Part 5

3. “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

4. Discourage: to take away courage Encourage: to fill with courage Courage: strength of mind to carry on in spite of danger

5. WHAT CAUSES DISCOURAGEMENT? In order to overcome discouragement, it is very important to identify what it is that best discourages you.

6. 1.There will always be opposition. 2. The opposition will attack your:

7. Abilities “What are those feeble Jews doing?” Goals “Will they restore their wall?”

8. Optimism “Will they offer sacrifices?” Enthusiasm “Will the finish in a day?”

9. Confidence “Can they bring stones back to life?”

10. 3. Sometimes, I get discouraged because of: Fatigue “Meanwhile, the people in Judah said, "The strength of the laborers is giving out…” Neh 4:10a

11. Frustration “…and there is so much rubble that we cannot rebuild the wall.” Neh 4:10b

12. Fear “Also our enemies said, "Before they know it or see us, we will be right there among them and will kill them and put an end to the work. Then the Jews who lived near them came and told us ten times over, "Wherever you turn, they will attack us.” Neh 4:11-12

13. HOW TO OVERCOME DISCOURAGEMENT Persevere “So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart.” Neh 4:6

14. Pray “But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat.” Neh 4:9 Ask God to work in this situation and don’t forget to do your part.

15. Reorganize Discouragement doesn't necessarily mean you are doing the wrong thing. It may just be that you are doing the right thing in the wrong way. Try a new approach. Shake things up a little.

16. “Therefore I stationed some of the people behind the lowest points of the wall at the exposed places, posting them by families, with their swords, spears and bows.” Neh 4:13

17. Resist the discouragement Fight back! Discouragement is a choice. If you feel discouraged, it's because you’ve chosen to feel that way. No one is forcing you to feel bad. Hang on! Do what's right in spite of your feelings. No feeling lasts forever.

18. “After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, "Don't be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.” Neh 4:14

19. “When our enemies heard that we were aware of their plot and that God had frustrated it, we all returned to the wall, each to his own work.” Neh 4:15