The Danger of Discouragement

 

There is a grave danger in discouragement.  The enemy of our souls is all too eager to take advantage of our letting our hands hang down.  Every time Moses lowered his hands the battle turned in the enemy's advantage.  We should be especially cautious about becoming disheartened when The Lord disciplines us or makes it clear to us that we are not doing well.  

 

We already know the scripture  - "My son, do not despise the discipline of The Lord, or lose courage when He reproves you."  Why, just what is the danger - after no discipline seems pleasant, but painful?  The answer to this is best seen in the story of Cain.  God disapproved (rejected) Cain's offering and Cain became very downcast.  The Lord lovingly sought to warn him of the danger this disheartened state placed him in - "SIN is crouching at your door and it desires to dominate you, but you must master it".  Cain did not receive the warning, but in his discouragement gave SIN a place in his heart.  SIN quickly took advantage of the opportunity Cain had given to fill his unguarded mind with hatred towards Abel, and you know the end of this story!  

 

We are just as vulnerable as Cain when we allow discouragement to cause us to lower our hands, drop our shield of faith, and allow the enemy to have a place because we basically surrender without a fight.  Satan has no qualm about taking advantage of someone while they are weak and down; it just makes his job much easier.  One of his favorite weapons is the tongue of a discouraged saint who gives Satan a place to begin to blame others and spew the bitter skepticism of their pain on others in their life.   Ten Israelite spies killed more fellow  Israelites by their discouraging words than any other army Israel faced!  

 

The potential harm of a defeated heart is so dangerous that the Israel commanders were taught to send fearful soldiers back home lest their lack of courage begin to damage the faith of their fellow soldiers.  If we allow our heart to become so discouraged that we ignore the warning that SIN is crouching at our door and desires to master us, we will find ourselves enslaved again to SIN and have no one to blame but our own unbelief; although, it is doubtful we will see it this way - for we will likely be too busy blaming others, the situation we're in, and ultimately God Himself for bringing us to this place.  SIN is always crouching at our door, but discouraged saints open the door and invite it in for fellowship. Misery loves company!