by Joyce Meyer
Our problems often begin with a disappointment. If we dwell on the disappointment long enough, we become discouraged, and then we may go from discouragement to depression to despair. This downward progression is not good. People in despair can be easily tempted to give up. They see no way out of their situations and come to believe their trouble will never end.
When Jesus ascended to the right hand of the Father, He sent us an Encourager, the Holy Spirit, to represent Him and work with us on His behalf (see John 14:26). The Holy Spirit is also called the Comforter (see John 15:26). He is with us to help us, to counsel and to comfort us. He will keep us from discouragement if we will listen to Him. He may encourage us directly in some way or He may—and often does—work through other people to encourage us. God has an antidote for every evil thing the enemy tries to do. All we need to do is discover what it is and apply it in our lives. The devil discourages, but the Holy Spirit encourages. The devil tries to destroy, but God restores, renews, and rebuilds. The devil is a liar, but God is Truth.
You may be thinking, I wish I had someone to encourage me but I don’t. When the people were talking of stoning King David, he encouraged himself in the Lord (see 1 Sam. 30:6). Likewise, we can encourage ourselves by remembering God’s promises to deliver and heal us, and by recalling times in the past when we were suffering and God delivered us. When we remember everything God has brought us through, it is easier to believe we will prevail through our present troubles.
When David was downcast he talked to himself, and I have mentioned previously that talking to yourself can be very valuable. David said: “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God” (Psalm 42:5–6 ESV).
Notice that David said, “I shall” praise the Lord. Perhaps he did not feel like doing it, but he chose to do it. He spoke to himself. You might say he talked himself right out of a bad mood. Think about it: You can talk yourself into a bad mood or you can talk yourself out of one.
In Psalms 42:11 and 43:5, David spoke the same words to himself again. This indicates to me that he struggled with feeling downcast more than once in his life, or perhaps the same episode hung on for a few days and he had to persist in his determination not to let the downcast feelings control him.
Always remember that the devil is persistent, and we will need to be equally persistent if we intend to overcome him. We all have different temperaments, and some people are simply more melancholy or negative than others. These individuals are more easily discouraged than others. Some are inclined to notice every feeling they have and examine it closely. They want to feel good all the time, and when they don’t, they dwell on how they feel until they become discouraged. I try not to pay attention to every little feeling I have, because what we pay attention to usually becomes the largest thing in our lives and can seem much bigger than it actually is. If we keep thinking about the pain in our toe, the headache we have, or the disappointment of not getting the promotion we wanted at work, it only makes the pain worse. We need to go out and do something to get our minds off of our problems and trust God to fight our battles for us.
One minister said that the most prevalent problem in the church today is discouragement. One reason for this is the state of the world. We live in difficult and discouraging times. The devil is behind all the problems in the world, and he uses them to the maximum extent. He uses the very problems he has created to discourage us.
Many Psalms are directed at this problem of discouragement, so it must have been a prevalent problem among people in every era. Discouragement can have many causes. As mentioned, it can be a matter of temperament, and in that case, it is very wise to know yourself. Actually, whether you are an extrovert or an introvert, happy and bubbly all the time or easily downcast, it is wise to know yourself. You need not feel discouraged by your weaknesses, but you do need to know what they are. Knowing yourself will help you guard against letting Satan take advantage of you. If you never get to know yourself, you will never be able to live with yourself very well. I do caution you, however, not to be too introspective, because the devil can also take advantage of that by tempting you to focus excessively on what you think your faults are and then become worried and upset about them.
The Lord knows our frame, and He is mindful that we are but dust (see Ps. 103:14). God is not surprised by our weaknesses; He knew about each of them before we did, and He is prepared to let His strength flow through them if we let Him. While knowing and examining ourselves is right and important, we should also remember that the devil always tries to drive us to extremes. Once again we see the importance of staying balanced. To refuse to recognize our faults is dangerous, but to focus on them too much is also dangerous.
Always remember that you are justified before God because of faith in Jesus Christ (see Gal. 2:16), not because you have no weaknesses. When the devil gives you a list of your faults you may say to him, “Yes, that is all true, but I am justified by faith in Jesus Christ, and I am cleansed by His blood.” The devil may whisper to you or he may shout at you; he may work through people who happily point out everything that is wrong with you, but God has already accepted you in the Beloved (see Eph. 1:6) and has promised never to reject those who believe.
God did not send His Son into the world to condemn us for our faults. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned (see John 3:18).
Why Would God Want Me?
I’m not perfect. I have all kinds of problems. I have no ability. I have no gifts. I’m just not worthy. Why would God want me?
Well, did you know that…
Moses stuttered.
David’s armor didn’t fit.
John Mark deserted Paul.
Timothy had ulcers.
Hosea’s wife was a prostitute.
Amos’ only training was in the school of fig-tree pruning.
Jacob was a liar.
David had an affair.
Abraham was too old.
David was too young.
Peter was afraid of death.
Lazarus was dead.
John was self-righteous.
Naomi was a widow.
Paul was a persecutor of the church.
Moses was a murderer.
Jonah ran from God’s will.
Miriam was a gossip.
Gideon and Thomas both doubted.
Jeremiah was depressed and suicidal.
Elijah was burned-out.
John the Baptist was a loudmouth.
Martha was a worry-wart.
Noah got drunk.
Did I mention that Moses had a short fuse?
So did Peter, Paul—well, lots of folks did.
(author unknown, “Why Would God Want Me?” gatewaytojesus.com/encouragingwritingspage1.html)
We all have some deficit, some reason that God should never choose us, but He does. God doesn’t require an interview for salvation. He is not prejudiced or partial. He loves us in spite of our faults.
“Why Would God Want ME?” concludes with a conversation between Jesus and the devil.
Satan says, “You’re not worthy.”
Jesus says, “So what? I Am.”
Satan looks back and sees our mistakes.
God looks back and sees the Cross.
God wants you, and He takes you as you are!
Don’t Be Surprised by Trouble
The Bible talks about suffering so much that I wonder why we are shocked when it comes our way.
“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you” (1 Pet. 4:12 ESV). Suffering will come and go, but we are to remain the same. If God allows us to suffer, it is so He can use our trials to make us stronger, better people. Faith is useless if it is never tested. It is easy to talk about faith, but we must walk in faith to prove we truly have it. Exercising our faith is like lifting weights. It is hard, but it increases our strength and makes our spir
itual muscles larger. When we face challenges in life and use our faith, our faith grows.
Some of our suffering comes through other people. The things they do to us and the things they don’t do for us can hurt. I urge you not to expect perfection from any person. If you want to be in relationships, you will have to be willing to be hurt at times because that is just what happens. Show mercy and be quick to forgive, and it will end your suffering. We are to bear with the failings of the weak (see Gal. 6:2), and we should remember that other people have to bear with our failings, too.
Perhaps we should be more concerned about the devil leaving us alone than we are about his attacking us. If he isn’t bothering us, it may mean we are not bothering him. After many years of experience in ministry and with the devil, I am no longer surprised when fiery ordeals come to test my quality. I don’t like them and I would rather not have them, but they don’t shock me.
I realize that the devil hates it when we show love or try to help people in need, or when the gospel is preached and people are being saved. He may hate it and try to stir up trouble, but the battle is already won. We learn endurance as we go through trials and tribulations. In simple terms I think this means that we learn to outlast the devil. Just as he left Jesus in the wilderness after he had finished testing Him, saying he would wait for a more opportune time, so he will leave us if we stand firm on God’s Word as Jesus did (see Luke 4:1–13). The devil will wait for another opportunity, but we need not fear, because the battle belongs to the Lord and we are more than conquerors through Christ Who loves us (see Rom. 8:37).
Undeserved Suffering
If anyone ever suffered and did not deserve it, it was Jesus! All of His suffering was for us. He bore injustice so we could be justified before God. If a person has done something evil, he may expect to suffer, but doing something right and then suffering for it is especially hard to bear. Peter said it is better to suffer unjustly for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than it is to suffer justly for doing evil (see 1 Pet. 3:17).
We say that we want to be like Jesus, but do we really? The following Scripture passage is difficult to take in, but if we truly want to be like Jesus, we must accept what it says.
For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.
1 Peter 2:19–21 ESV
This passage says that it is good in God’s sight if we endure suffering we don’t deserve and that we have actually been called to do so if we intend to follow in Jesus’ footsteps. Remember that my definition of endure means “to outlast the devil,” so the next time you feel you have done good and are suffering anyway, just remind the devil that you are happy to walk the same path that Jesus walked and that you are fully convinced that God will reward you for your faithfulness.
If God is fighting our battles for us, why do we still suffer? Some battles are longer than others, and at times we will need to take the apostle Paul’s advice: Having done everything the crisis demands, stand firmly in your place (see Eph. 6:13). The fact that God fights our battles for us doesn’t mean we never get wounded. Our wounds will heal and we won’t have scars, but we will be stronger in our faith and able to endure more the next time the enemy attacks. Each battle gives us experience with the faithfulness of God, and nothing is better than experience.
God’s Word says that Jesus gained obedience through what He suffered, and that equipped Him to become the “Author and Source” of our salvation (see Heb. 5:8–9 AMPC). He was wounded for our transgressions and by His wounds we are healed and made whole (see Isa. 53:5; 1 Pet. 2:24). It may just be that in our times of unjust suffering we are also being prepared and equipped to help someone else. The job of healing wounded souls wasn’t finished when Jesus left this earth to return to His place at the right hand of God; He simply turned it over to us. So let’s be determined to help as many people as we can for as long as we are alive. The devil will fight against us, but God will fight for us, and we know who wins! Remember, the Word of God promises that even as we go through much difficulty, we are more than conquerors through Christ Who loves us (see Rom. 8:37). Let’s always remember the promise of 1 Corinthians 15:57 (my paraphrase):
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Thanks be to God Who always
gives us the victory through
Jesus Christ our Lord!
Do you have a real relationship with Jesus?
God loves you! He created you to be a special, unique, one-of-a-kind individual, and He has a specific purpose and plan for your life. And through a personal relationship with your Creator—God—you can discover a way of life that will truly satisfy your soul.
No matter who you are, what you’ve done, or where you are in your life right now, God’s love and grace are greater than your sin—your mistakes. Jesus willingly gave His life so you can receive forgiveness from God and have new life in Him. He’s just waiting for you to invite Him to be your Savior and Lord.
If you are ready to commit your life to Jesus and follow Him, all you have to do is ask Him to forgive your sins and give you a fresh start in the life you are meant to live. Begin by praying this prayer…
Lord Jesus, thank You for giving Your life for me and forgiving me of my sins so I can have a personal relationship with You. I am sincerely sorry for the mistakes I’ve made, and I know I need You to help me live right.
Your Word says in Romans 10:9, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (NIV). I believe You are the Son of God and confess You as my Savior and Lord. Take me just as I am, and work in my heart, making me the person You want me to be. I want to live for You, Jesus, and I am so grateful that You are giving me a fresh start in my new life with You today.
I love You, Jesus!
It’s so amazing to know that God loves us so much! He wants to have a deep, intimate relationship with us that grows every day as we spend time with Him in prayer and Bible study. And we want to encourage you in your new life in Christ.
Please visit joycemeyer.org/salvation to request Joyce’s book A New Way of Living, which is our gift to you. We also have other free resources online to help you make progress in pursuing everything God has for you.
Congratulations on your fresh start in your life in Christ! We hope to hear from you soon.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
JOYCE MEYER is one of the world’s leading practical Bible teachers. A New York Times best-selling author, Joyce’s books have helped millions of people find hope and restoration through Jesus Christ. Joyce’s programs, Enjoying Everyday Life and Everyday Answers with Joyce Meyer, air around the world on television, radio, and the internet. Through Joyce Meyer Ministries, Joyce teaches internationally on a number of topics with a particular focus on how the Word of God applies to our everyday lives. Her candid communication style allows her to share openly and practically about her experiences so others can apply what she has learned to their lives.
Joyce has authored more than one hundred books, which have been translated into more than one hundred languages, and more than 65 million of her books have been distributed worldwide. Bestsellers include Power Thoughts; The Confident Woman; Look Great, Feel Great; Starting Your Day Right; Ending Your Day Right; Approval Addiction; How to Hear from God; Beauty for Ashes; and Battlefield of the Mind.
Joyce’s passion to help hurting people is foundational to the vision of Hand of Hope, the missions arm of Joyce Meyer Ministries. Hand of Hope provides worldwide humanitarian outreaches such as feeding programs, medical care, orp
hanages, disaster response, human trafficking intervention and rehabilitation, and much more—always sharing the love and Gospel of Christ.
OTHER BOOKS BY JOYCE MEYER
100 Ways to Simplify Your Life
21 Ways to Finding Peace and Happiness
Any Minute
Approval Addiction
The Approval Fix
The Battle Belongs to the Lord
Battlefield of the Mind *
Battlefield of the Mind for Kids
Battlefield of the Mind for Teens
Battlefield of the Mind Devotional
Be Anxious for Nothing *
Being the Person God Made You to Be
Beauty for Ashes
Change Your Words, Change Your Life
The Confident Mom
The Confident Woman
The Confident Woman Devotional
Do Yourself a Favor… Forgive
Eat the Cookie… Buy the Shoes
Eight Ways to Keep the Devil Under Your Feet
Ending Your Day Right
Enjoying Where You Are on the Way to Where You Are Going
Ephesians: Biblical Commentary
The Everyday Life Bible
Filled with the Spirit
Good Health, Good Life
Healing the Soul of a Woman*
Hearing from God Each Morning
How to Hear from God*
How to Succeed at Being Yourself
I Dare You
If Not for the Grace of God *
In Pursuit of Peace
