LOVE: AN ANTIDOTE FOR DISCOURAGEMENT

“Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances and it endures everything [without weakening].”—1 Corinthians 13:7

David wrote Psalm 38 at a time that he was very discouraged.  He was a man whom God said was “after His own heart,” and yet here we see him downcast and discouraged, struggling and crying out in distress to God. “I am troubled, I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long. I am feeble and severely broken; I groan because of the turmoil of my heart, My heart pants, my strength fails me; as for the light of my eyes it also has gone from me. But I, like a deaf man, do not hear; and I am like a mute who does not open his mouth. Thus I am like a man who does not hear, and in whose mouth is no response” (Psalm 38:6, 8, 10, 13-14).

Reading this Psalm, we get a picture of a man who is plagued by discouragement.  His soul is “cast down” to the point that all he could do was cry.  This is a man who hungered for the Lord and daily poured out his heart to Him in prayer and worship.  But now, discouragement has settled in on him and he can see no way out of this situation.

Many Christians are discouraged, and like David are trying to figure out why they feel so empty and broken in spirit. In this state, the enemy brings every failure, sin and foolish deed before them.  He then brings the thought to their minds, “Am I so wounded that I am beyond hope?” 

Even at his lowest point, David would not allow himself to excessively indulge in unbelief. Because of David’s relationship with God, He continued to cry out to Him in faith. “For in You, O Lord, I hope; You will hear, O Lord my God” (vs. 15).

Today, you can cry out in faith to God for His help.  God is a God of love and His love never fails, even when we do.  His love is unconditional.  He loves you because He is love and He does not withdraw it from you—ever.   I Corinthians 13: 4-8a list the remarkable characteristics of God’s love. 

“Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy; is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily. It is not conceited—arrogant, and inflated with pride; it is not rude (unmannerly), and does not act unbecomingly. Love [God’s love in us] does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it—pays no attention to a suffered wrong. It does not rejoice in injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail. Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances and it endures everything [without weakening].   Love never fails—never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end” [emphasis added].

As you mediate upon these Scriptures, strength and courage will come to your heart knowing that you can trust in God’s love for you; therefore, leaving no room for discouragement to grow.

Prayer—Father I thank You that Your love dwells in my heart by faith, and where there is love discouragement cannot have a place in me, in Jesus Name. Amen.