It is important for us as believers to know the tools that the enemy uses against us. In light of this, we wanted to share the following illustration:
The devil decided to have a garage sale. He laid all of his well-used tools, each with its own price tag, out on the table. All of those he used regularly against humanity were there: lust, malice, greed, hatred, envy, pride, deceit, and so on. But there was one tool that had its own table. This tool looked the most worn from use of all the other tools. Those walking by the table were astonished at the exorbitant price the devil was asking for it. The tool was discouragement. People were puzzled and wanted to know why this one tool surpassed the others in use and value. Satan snidely replied: “This tool is the one which I can hide behind the most. I can enter my victims’ minds and so convince them of their worthlessness, stupidity, and fear that they don’t even realize it’s me who is planting those thoughts. Those thoughts become the truth to them, even though they are lies. Before any major damage can happen to my kingdom, I can thwart the best God-given plan before it ever has time to become a reality. Discouragement affects all human beings, no matter how close to God they are. I can convince almost anyone that he or she is not in a close relationship with Him through this one tool.
When the devil was asked why this particular tool was the most expensive, he said, “Because this is my sharpest and the most useful tool; it is called discouragement. With discouragement I can do anything I want with anybody regardless of their education, religion, wealth or fame. It always works; never fails."
Discouragement is the Devil’s most powerful tool. It brings along with it a feeling of helplessness and hopelessness that leads to overwhelming and crushing sadness. Discouragement doesn’t happen all at once. It usually starts with a trigger and then builds up. It starts with anger, disappointment, frustration, anxiety, guilt, or some such thing that makes us feel uneasy and sad.
These are normal emotions and we have them from time to time. "I could have done better. I am not as smart as she is or he is. I should have studied more, etc.". Discouragement can happen to anyone at any point of time. Regardless of your. health, wealth, fame or power, none of us is immune to this assault.
Along with discouragement comes depression. Consider these names: Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Robert. Schumann, Ludwig von Beethoven, Edgar Allen Poe, Mark Twain. They are very. well-known politicians, musicians, and writers. These incredibly talented. individuals had their expertise in different fields. But they had one common. experience. They all battled the debilitating disease of severe depression.
Listen to this man and guess who this might be. He wrote, “I am now the most miserable man living. If what I feel was equally distributed to the whole human family, there would not be one cheerful face on earth. To remain as I am is impossible. I must die or get better.” Do you sense a severe depression in this man? Do you know who wrote it? It was Abraham Lincoln.
Consider another man. During the World War II the Prime Minister of England, Winston Churchill told his people, “Never give up, never, never, never, never give up!” He was one of the most courageous and positive-thinking people in history. But he called depression a “black dog” that followed him all his life. He was affected by depression again and again throughout his life.
Even spiritual giants that we read about in the Bible, were not protected from depression. Moses, for example, was once so deeply depressed that he asked God to end his life. After the Israelites came out of Egypt, they had a difficult life in the wilderness. Yes, the Lord provided manna and water., but still it was a harsh life in the wasteland, no doubt. After a couple of years in the wilderness they really missed meat in their meals. They wanted to eat meat and they demanded Moses to provide some meat for them. Moses couldn’t do that for the huge crowd. There was no way he could provide them meat. So, Moses cried out to the Lord. He said to the Lord, “Why have you brought this trouble to me? Why did you pick me to lead these people? God did provide meat for them.
What about Elijah? Elijah was a great prophet of the Old Testament. In 1 Kings, chapter 18, we are told that after defeating and killing 450 prophets of baal on Mt. Carmel, Jezebel (the queen and a baal worshipper herself) was furious. She sent a message to Elijah saying that she would surely kill Elijah just the way he killed those prophets. We are then told that Elijah ran away and hid himself and fell into a deep depression. And he said to the Lord, “I have had enough, Lord. Take my life. I am no better than my ancestors. I cannot live like this. It is better for me to die than to live. Elijah was severely depressed and very discouraged - even though he had just won an amazing victory!
Did you know that King David also battled depression? In Psalm 42:5 we read, “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted in me? King David was asking himself this rhetorical question. He was basically saying, “I am really depressed. I know I need to trust the Lord and I am trying. But I don’t have peace. I don’t have comfort. I don’t have assurance that God is with me. What I have is anxiety and fear. I don’t feel the presence of God.” David was desperately trying to escape from his depression. But he had not been able to. So David confessed in verse 3. “My tears have been my food day and night.” All day long, I weep and cry."
I want you to know that we all do get depressed and discouraged from time to time. And there is nothing sinful with getting depressed or being discouraged.. But that doesn't mean we should just stay depressed.
The Lord does not want us to remain in the condition of depression or discouragement all the time.
So, what can we do to come out of depression and the spirit of constantly being discouraged? I have a few suggestions:
Don’t isolate yourself, but go out and serve others. Someone once asked Karl Menninger, the famous American psychiatrist, for some advice. He said: Don’t isolate yourself, but go out and serve others. Actually the person who asked the question was expecting to hear, "Go see a psychiatrist.” But that is not what he said. Instead, he said, “If you are really severely depressed, do this: Lock the door behind you, go across the street, find somebody that’s in need, and do something to help them.” He knew that we find meaning in life when we do something that positively affects other people. We find joy when we see value in our lives. We see value in our lives when we make a difference in other people’s lives, even in a small way. And when we find joy in life, we come out of depression.
Put your hope in God. In Psalm 43, verse 5, King David says: “Put your hope in GOD, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my GOD.” David took his eyes off of himself. Instead of looking at his circumstances, he looked up to the Lord. Let me give you another example: Horatio G. Spafford was an American Lawyer and businessman in Chicago with a lovely family - a wife, Anna, and five children. However, in 1871 their only son died of pneumonia. And in that same year, much of their business was lost in the great Chicago fire. But, by God’s mercy and kindness the business recovered quickly. Two years later, in November 1873, he and his family wanted to spend a winter vacation in England. However, Horatio still needed to take care of a few things so Anna and their four daughters left first on a ship to England. Unfortunately, that ship collided with another ship as it was crossing the Atlantic and sank quickly. There were 313 passengers on board and 226 people died among them the Spafford daughters. As soon as Anna reached land, she telegraphed to her husband: “Saved alone. Children lost. What shall I do?” Horatio was on the next available ship and left to join his grieving wife. On that ship, near the place where the tragedy had occurred, he wrote the words to the song: It Is Well With My Soul When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, When sorrow like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot Thou hast taught me to say. It is well, it is well with my soul. Wow! What is an admirable faith. “Why are you cast down, O my soul? Why are you disquieted in me? Put your hope in the LORD and praise Him for He is your help and your salvation, your hope for the future.
Turn to CHRIST for Help. Remember in HIS word, JESUS said, "Come to me all who are tired and weary, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28) Paul also confirms for us, "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." (Phil. 4:13). Jesus Christ who gave His life for us on that Cross on Calvary can really make a difference!
Let’s face it discouragement, depression can get into our minds and color our actions and our belief systems. It can even take control of our health producing anxiety and blood pressure issues and incorrect reasoning. Most of us can fill in the blanks on how we are affected. The legend in the illustration says that the devil's price for discouragement was so high that it was never sold. He still owns it and is still using it.
Are you experiencing, depression and discouragement today? Let me encourage you to: Turn to Christ for Help, Put your Hope in GOD and then GO OUT and Impact others for Christ! Yes, the devil hasn't gone out of business and is seemingly working overtime to discourage many today. However, be encouraged, because the devil is a defeated enemy and his tools are powerless over JESUS. Keep your eyes on the LORD and remember what we are told in 1 John 4:4 "...greater is HE who is in you than he who is in the world."
The devil decided to have a garage sale. He laid all of his well-used tools, each with its own price tag, out on the table. All of those he used regularly against humanity were there: lust, malice, greed, hatred, envy, pride, deceit, and so on. But there was one tool that had its own table. This tool looked the most worn from use of all the other tools. Those walking by the table were astonished at the exorbitant price the devil was asking for it. The tool was discouragement. People were puzzled and wanted to know why this one tool surpassed the others in use and value. Satan snidely replied: “This tool is the one which I can hide behind the most. I can enter my victims’ minds and so convince them of their worthlessness, stupidity, and fear that they don’t even realize it’s me who is planting those thoughts. Those thoughts become the truth to them, even though they are lies. Before any major damage can happen to my kingdom, I can thwart the best God-given plan before it ever has time to become a reality. Discouragement affects all human beings, no matter how close to God they are. I can convince almost anyone that he or she is not in a close relationship with Him through this one tool.
When the devil was asked why this particular tool was the most expensive, he said, “Because this is my sharpest and the most useful tool; it is called discouragement. With discouragement I can do anything I want with anybody regardless of their education, religion, wealth or fame. It always works; never fails."
Discouragement is the Devil’s most powerful tool. It brings along with it a feeling of helplessness and hopelessness that leads to overwhelming and crushing sadness. Discouragement doesn’t happen all at once. It usually starts with a trigger and then builds up. It starts with anger, disappointment, frustration, anxiety, guilt, or some such thing that makes us feel uneasy and sad.
These are normal emotions and we have them from time to time. "I could have done better. I am not as smart as she is or he is. I should have studied more, etc.". Discouragement can happen to anyone at any point of time. Regardless of your. health, wealth, fame or power, none of us is immune to this assault.
Along with discouragement comes depression. Consider these names: Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Robert. Schumann, Ludwig von Beethoven, Edgar Allen Poe, Mark Twain. They are very. well-known politicians, musicians, and writers. These incredibly talented. individuals had their expertise in different fields. But they had one common. experience. They all battled the debilitating disease of severe depression.
Listen to this man and guess who this might be. He wrote, “I am now the most miserable man living. If what I feel was equally distributed to the whole human family, there would not be one cheerful face on earth. To remain as I am is impossible. I must die or get better.” Do you sense a severe depression in this man? Do you know who wrote it? It was Abraham Lincoln.
Consider another man. During the World War II the Prime Minister of England, Winston Churchill told his people, “Never give up, never, never, never, never give up!” He was one of the most courageous and positive-thinking people in history. But he called depression a “black dog” that followed him all his life. He was affected by depression again and again throughout his life.
Even spiritual giants that we read about in the Bible, were not protected from depression. Moses, for example, was once so deeply depressed that he asked God to end his life. After the Israelites came out of Egypt, they had a difficult life in the wilderness. Yes, the Lord provided manna and water., but still it was a harsh life in the wasteland, no doubt. After a couple of years in the wilderness they really missed meat in their meals. They wanted to eat meat and they demanded Moses to provide some meat for them. Moses couldn’t do that for the huge crowd. There was no way he could provide them meat. So, Moses cried out to the Lord. He said to the Lord, “Why have you brought this trouble to me? Why did you pick me to lead these people? God did provide meat for them.
What about Elijah? Elijah was a great prophet of the Old Testament. In 1 Kings, chapter 18, we are told that after defeating and killing 450 prophets of baal on Mt. Carmel, Jezebel (the queen and a baal worshipper herself) was furious. She sent a message to Elijah saying that she would surely kill Elijah just the way he killed those prophets. We are then told that Elijah ran away and hid himself and fell into a deep depression. And he said to the Lord, “I have had enough, Lord. Take my life. I am no better than my ancestors. I cannot live like this. It is better for me to die than to live. Elijah was severely depressed and very discouraged - even though he had just won an amazing victory!
Did you know that King David also battled depression? In Psalm 42:5 we read, “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted in me? King David was asking himself this rhetorical question. He was basically saying, “I am really depressed. I know I need to trust the Lord and I am trying. But I don’t have peace. I don’t have comfort. I don’t have assurance that God is with me. What I have is anxiety and fear. I don’t feel the presence of God.” David was desperately trying to escape from his depression. But he had not been able to. So David confessed in verse 3. “My tears have been my food day and night.” All day long, I weep and cry."
I want you to know that we all do get depressed and discouraged from time to time. And there is nothing sinful with getting depressed or being discouraged.. But that doesn't mean we should just stay depressed.
The Lord does not want us to remain in the condition of depression or discouragement all the time.
So, what can we do to come out of depression and the spirit of constantly being discouraged? I have a few suggestions:
Don’t isolate yourself, but go out and serve others. Someone once asked Karl Menninger, the famous American psychiatrist, for some advice. He said: Don’t isolate yourself, but go out and serve others. Actually the person who asked the question was expecting to hear, "Go see a psychiatrist.” But that is not what he said. Instead, he said, “If you are really severely depressed, do this: Lock the door behind you, go across the street, find somebody that’s in need, and do something to help them.” He knew that we find meaning in life when we do something that positively affects other people. We find joy when we see value in our lives. We see value in our lives when we make a difference in other people’s lives, even in a small way. And when we find joy in life, we come out of depression.
Put your hope in God. In Psalm 43, verse 5, King David says: “Put your hope in GOD, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my GOD.” David took his eyes off of himself. Instead of looking at his circumstances, he looked up to the Lord. Let me give you another example: Horatio G. Spafford was an American Lawyer and businessman in Chicago with a lovely family - a wife, Anna, and five children. However, in 1871 their only son died of pneumonia. And in that same year, much of their business was lost in the great Chicago fire. But, by God’s mercy and kindness the business recovered quickly. Two years later, in November 1873, he and his family wanted to spend a winter vacation in England. However, Horatio still needed to take care of a few things so Anna and their four daughters left first on a ship to England. Unfortunately, that ship collided with another ship as it was crossing the Atlantic and sank quickly. There were 313 passengers on board and 226 people died among them the Spafford daughters. As soon as Anna reached land, she telegraphed to her husband: “Saved alone. Children lost. What shall I do?” Horatio was on the next available ship and left to join his grieving wife. On that ship, near the place where the tragedy had occurred, he wrote the words to the song: It Is Well With My Soul When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, When sorrow like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot Thou hast taught me to say. It is well, it is well with my soul. Wow! What is an admirable faith. “Why are you cast down, O my soul? Why are you disquieted in me? Put your hope in the LORD and praise Him for He is your help and your salvation, your hope for the future.
Turn to CHRIST for Help. Remember in HIS word, JESUS said, "Come to me all who are tired and weary, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28) Paul also confirms for us, "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." (Phil. 4:13). Jesus Christ who gave His life for us on that Cross on Calvary can really make a difference!
Let’s face it discouragement, depression can get into our minds and color our actions and our belief systems. It can even take control of our health producing anxiety and blood pressure issues and incorrect reasoning. Most of us can fill in the blanks on how we are affected. The legend in the illustration says that the devil's price for discouragement was so high that it was never sold. He still owns it and is still using it.
Are you experiencing, depression and discouragement today? Let me encourage you to: Turn to Christ for Help, Put your Hope in GOD and then GO OUT and Impact others for Christ! Yes, the devil hasn't gone out of business and is seemingly working overtime to discourage many today. However, be encouraged, because the devil is a defeated enemy and his tools are powerless over JESUS. Keep your eyes on the LORD and remember what we are told in 1 John 4:4 "...greater is HE who is in you than he who is in the world."
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