Defeating Discouragement
Sometime, we set ourselves up for disappointment by:
Unrealistic expectations of self. Have you ever said, I would never do that? Satan loves it! Peter is a good example of unreasonable expectation. Just hours before Jesus' betrayal, Peter said, I will never leave you, I'll go with you all the way, even die with you. Peter's disappointment came as a result of his own unrealistic expectations. I think we can all identify with Peter. Right?
Unrealistic expectations of God and others. The rich young ruler come to Jesus asking, what must I do to inherit eternal life. Jesus told him, to keep the commandments. His reply was, been there, done that, got that T-shirt. Then Jesus said, go sell all that you have and come follow me. At this point, the young man was disappointed and went away sad. Why? Because, Jesus didn't say and do what he expected of Him.
Sometimes we go to God looking for answers that we expect Him to give. We have the idea that if we will do this, and this, and this — that God will in turn do this, and this, and this. We set God up, and when He doesn't act or react according to our expectations we're disappointed. When this happens, instead of looking at ourselves, which is where we should be looking, we become disappointed with God.
Unrealistic expectation of results.
Jesus tells the parable about a man who wanted to attend a wedding feast, but was unwilling to make preparations by proper dress. As a result, he was thrown out and barred from the festivities. This man believed he could have the benefits of the feast without making the necessary changes. I wonder how many times we bring on our own disappointments, by our unrealistic concept of what it takes to become the people and person we want to be, and that God wants us to be.
What must we do to be more realistic?
Be honest with ourselves. Understand that we are sinners and we're gonna make mistakes, some serious ones. Paul had a terrible past, however, he was willing to admit his failures to the whole world, Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst. We must see ourselves as we really are. mistakes. Sure, we will be disappointed with ourselves, but we must understand that God has provided a means by which we can be forgiven and sins can be forgotten. Paul understood this, Not that I have already been made perfect...but one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead, I press on. We must learn to accept God's grace, mercy, forgiveness and get on with life. Get on with what God has commissioned us to be and do. Sure, we
Don't dwell on our mistakes.
Understand our own agenda may not be God's agenda. He is the potter, we are the clay. Yield to God's molding and reshaping hand through the word, and through His divine providence. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
Know that we can be forgiven. If you are disappointed with yourself, and who of us is not, know that God has provided a way for us to be forgiven, For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not by works, so that no-one can boast... You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ...Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Yes, disappointments and discouragement are going to come, but we must not allow them to become a sickness.
—Randall Caselman
