By Jeff Cranston

(Part 2 of a two-part series)

With everything going on in the world today, it’s easy to become discouraged. In part 1 of this blog post, we learned that discouragement is a recurring, highly contagious condition. It can come from external forces, such as being ridiculed or suppressed by others or from internal forces, such as fatigue, frustration and fear. But the good news is that discouragement is highly curable! You don’t have to live with a chronic condition anymore. In Nehemiah 4:1:23, we find three cures for discouragement:

1. Request for God’s help.

“Hear, O our God, how we are despised! Return their reproach on their own heads and give them up for plunder in a land of captivity. Do not forgive their iniquity and let not their sin be blotted out before You, for they have demoralized the builders” (Nehemiah 4:4-5, NASB). 

This was quite a prayer! Nehemiah wasn’t praying for his enemies to become believers, but instead for God to judge them. This prayer may not have been sugar and spice and everything nice, but it was understandable and honest. He knew that the enemies were really fighting against God, and so he asks God to deal with them. Here’s the principle we can learn from Nehemiah: When people talk against you, don’t talk back. Instead,­ talk to God. When his enemies started running their mouths, Nehemiah continued to talk to God, and the people continued to work. 

2. Re-prioritize your life.

“…then I stationed men in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, the exposed places, and I stationed the people in families with their swords, spears and bows” (Nehemiah 4:13, NASB).

Nehemiah had already organized the people in chapter 3, and they had finished half of their task. Now a new situation had come about that required a change in organization. If the enemies were going to attack, they would most likely do so at the weakest places. So Nehemiah put guards at all the vulnerable spots. This served two purposes: It discouraged the enemy, and it encouraged the people because it dealt with their fear.

When you’re feeling discouraged, one of the things you can do is to reorganize your priorities. You can look at your life. You can adopt a change in approach instead of becoming so discouraged that you quit. 

Do you have a problem in your marriage? If so, don’t bail on your spouse! Change your approach. Adopt a new attitude. Get some help.

Do you have a problem in your job? Don’t give up! Change your priorities.

Do you have a problem in your walk with God? Don’t stop following Jesus! Reorganize your schedule so you can meet with Him regularly. Plug into a small group.

Don’t be overcome by discouragement. Do something about it! In verse 16, the workers reorganized again by dividing responsibilities:­ half worked, and the other half kept watch. Then they switched off. They worked together as a team.

3. Remember God’s greatness and power.

After looking everything over and sensing the discouragement within his team, Nehemiah rallied his troops: “Do not be afraid of them; remember the Lord who is great and awesome … ” (Nehemiah 4:14a, NASB)

Nehemiah knew, even in the face of opposition, that the success of the wall was wholly dependent upon God, who inspired its beginning. Verse 10 was true: The people could not rebuild the wall on their own. They needed to remember God and what He had promised.

I don’t know about you, but it’s easy for me to forget God when things are tough. I need to be reminded that He is always there for me. How do you remember the Lord? By remembering that He will always be there for you, that He is great and awesome, and is more than able to deal with your discouragement.

So, when you’re down, turn your attention from your discouragement to the One who can do something about it. God has been faithful to you in the past. He is faithful to you today. And He has promised to be faithful to you in the future. Remember the Lord. Remember His promises. Remember His goodness. Remember His power. Our God is great and awesome! Remember Him. 

Jeff Cranston is the lead pastor of LowCountry Community Church in Bluffton, S.C.

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