(A Biblical Perspective by Al Thomas)

Discouragement is one the most lethal weapons the enemy uses against God's people. Knowing how to deal with discouragement (before it wedges its way into your inner life and becomes a major issue) is something you must learn if you are to be an overcomer (REVELATION 2: 7, 11, 17, 26; 3:12, 21; 21:7). David said in Psalm 42, "Why art thou down, O my soul?" He said it twice and then again in Psalm 43. If you are discouraged, don't ignore it, face it head on, and battle it. If you act like its not there you will be robbing yourself and God because your energy, purpose and focus will be dampened. We are to be 'steadfast, immoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord knowing that our labor is not in vain in the Lord' (1 COR. 15:58). It's impossible to be steadfast, immovable and abounding in the work of the Lord if you are battling discouragement. Times of discouragement will come, when they do remember this.

1. SEE GOD. He's waiting for you. Unfortunately this is usually the last place people go to and it should be the first. Before all the 'wringing of hands' the 'sweating of the brow' and the 'woe is me' talk to yourself and others go to the Source, God Himself. Some say "I did, He didn't say anything." Then put your anchor down and start waiting. (HEBREWS 6:15-19). 'God is a refuge for the oppressed' (PSALM 9:9). Read Psalm 57:1; 50:16; 62:7; 91:2 & 9; and 94:22. Psalm 25:5 says " Lead me in thy truth and teach me; for thy are the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day long." God leaves no one.He is waiting for you to wait on Him. "In the time of trouble He will hide me in His pavilion, in the secret of His tabernacle shall He hide me, He shall set me upon a rock" (PSALM 27:5). God is calling: "When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek" (v. 8). God has been described in many ways. One of my favorites is 'A huge guy with a big coat that has millions of pockets' and if you get close enough He will reach in one of those pockets and give you exactly what you need. Maybe not your felt need, but your true need. There is a difference.
2. SEE GOD'S VIEW.instead of the world's. Occasionally it seems we are spinning our wheels. Wasting our time. Bearing no fruit. Sometimes discouragement is simply a lack of perspective or proper focus. Keith Green sang "The view from here (earth) is nothing near from what it is (heaven) for You." I've never met a depressed person who didn't have their focus on themselves. The way God sees you and the way you see yourself must come into alignment. Why? Because how God view problems are different from how we usually do. Elijah thought he was the only prophet in the land. "...I, even I am left; and they seek my life, to take it away." (1 KINGS 10:10) Elijah was telling God false information, not once, but twice (v. 14)! Elijah's problem? He didn't have all the facts. (Friendly Tip: Don't complain about anything - especially to God - unless you have all the facts). Elijah wasn't alone (see v. 18) and neither are you. The enemy wants you to feel cornered and come up with a worldly solution to your problem rather than waiting for God. Don't fall for it. Remember King Saul? He didn't wait for the prophet (Samuel) to arrive for the sacrifice. No, he goes ahead and does the sacrifice himself (1 SAMUEL 13:9). He felt pressured, he got nervous, he got antsy, he freaked out.the devil fooled him. Because of that foolish move he lost a kingdom (v. 9 -14). He didn't see God's view.he saw his own, acted on it and lost. Ask God to open your eyes. You're not surrounded, your enemies are (2 KINGS 6:16 17). It's how you view things. Get God's perspective, He's got 20/20 spiritual vision.(past, present and future). Without God even nuclear bifocals wouldn't help any of us. He sees all, knows all and never panics. When we have His perspective peace rules our hearts (COL. 3:15).
3. SEE GOD'S SOLUTION.not your own. Too often we want to 'figure things out' instead of waiting on God . David (Saul's replacement) wrote 'Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD' (PSALM 27:14). Don't misunderstand me. I'm not trying to give you some pseudo simplistic answer like 'Jesus loves you, so snap out of it!' ignoring the seriousness of your dilemma, spouting off uncompassionate Christian buzz words expecting you to start spinning like a top. Yet at the same time God's answers are usually quite simple. The problem is we start to imagine in our own minds how God is going to rescue us. Don't do this. You see, God is always going somewhere. But don't start going somewhere until you know for sure that is the direction God is going. "Blessed is the man who finds out which way God is moving and then gets going in the same direction" (ANONYMOUS) Just because you have trust does not necessarily mean you understand what is happening to you. Sometimes biblical trust has nothing to do with logic or circumstances. Today people want to explain everything. Even believers feel if they can explain something (like the power of God) then they can be partakers of the same. This is not true. Sometimes we do not understand but we are to still trust God. God's peace can come even though understanding escapes us (PHIL. 4:7). Knowledge of God and understanding God are two different things. Some things we will not understand in this world. We are looking through a glass darkly (1 COR.13:12). Biblical trust means to 'confide in' or to 'flee to God for protection', (Read PSALM 5:11). Don't let the enemy's attempt to throw fear and intimidation on you rob you of God's 'on the way' blessing. Firmly resist Satan (JAMES 4:7), then listen for the sound: The train is coming around the corner, the whistle is blowing. I hear shaking, chains are falling (ACTS 16:26), if I were you I'd start rejoicing by faith (PHIL. 4:4) because that Engineer is wearing a huge coat.and stuff is falling out all over the place.