Overcoming Discouragement with Joy

Part 2

Once upon a time, the devil decided to have a huge yard sale. He advertised that he was selling off many of his tools. On the day of the sale, a curious crowd gathered, but they soon discovered that one tool had a big “Not for Sale” sign attached to it. One man got up his courage and approached the devil. He asked him to explain what that tool did and why it wasn’t for sale. The devil answered, “I can do without my other tools, but not this one. It is the most useful tool that I have. It is called “Discouragement,” and with it, I can find my way into hearts that would otherwise be unreachable. When I can get this tool into a person’s heart, it opens the way for me to put anything else in there that I want.”

So, what exactly are the limits to human tolerance? What are the units of measurement for pain and discouragement, and how does your discouragement differ from mine?

Well, we aren’t sure about the answer to those questions, but the human spirit can be an amazing thing. Take the case of Lawrence Hanratty, who was named the “Unluckiest Man in New York City.” This poor fellow, profiled in the Los Angeles Times, was nearly electrocuted to death in a construction site accident in 1984. For weeks he lay in a coma, with his lawyers fighting for his liability claim—until one of them was disbarred and two of them died. Hanratty’s wife ran off with her lawyer. Hanratty lost his car in a terrible crash. After the police had left the scene of the accident, criminals came along and robbed him. Then, an insurance company fought to cut off his workers’ compensation benefits; his landlord tried to evict him. He suffered from depression and agoraphobia. He required a canister of oxygen for breathing and took forty-two pills per day for his heart and liver ailments. But a city councilman took up his cause. Neighbors began to rally around him. Incredibly, Lawrence Hanratty summed up his life this way: “There’s always hope.”

For us, and thank God for His amazing grace and kindness, “our hope” is the anchor of our soul. It keeps us grounded and encouraged to keep moving forward with expectation.

Hebrew 6:19 KJV
“Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;”

Hebrews 6:19 ESV

“We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain.” (into God’s presence)

What does an anchor do?  It holds something in place.  In the calm or in the storm an anchor can keep a ship of almost any size secured in place.  How big is our God?  How faithful is He? How true are His promises?  He has guaranteed the truthfulness of His Word and that we can stake our lives on.  We STAND on the truth!!

1 Kings 8:56 says, “…Every word has come true of all His good promise…” (NLV). Fear leaves when you can rely on something that can’t fail. God has never failed to fulfill His promises. There are over 1000 predictions or prophecies in the Bible—promises that God made before they happened. The chances of merely 17 of these coming to pass are 1 out of 450 billion x 1 billion x 1 trillion! Yet not one of these promises has failed.

Hope is our endurance factor; it is the guarantee of a desired expectation or anticipated result of a promise.  It is the realization that we are always in the inner sanctuary of the Almighty.

Psalm 16:11 KJV

¹¹ Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

Heb 12:1,2 ESV

1Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.3Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.

What does God say about our future? How do we “hang in there” experiencing victory?  What do we have to look forward to?

Romans 15:13 KJV

¹³ Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

Galatians 5:22 KJV

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

Today we are encouraged with great joy, why? Because we dwell in Him.

So, what do we do?

Philippians 4:4 KJV

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 KJV

¹⁶ Rejoice evermore. ¹⁷ Pray without ceasing. ¹⁸ In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

So, what do you think? Will you stay discouraged or choose joy? It’s up to you.

“Joy is the serious business of heaven.”- C.S. Lewis