Everyone Needs Encouragement

All of us occasionally deal with discouragement and even depression. It might be a day or it might be a whole season of our lives. I know a little bit about discouragement and depression. There have been seasons in my life when I have been discouraged to the point of feeling like a failure. In the early 90s, I was diagnosed with clinical depression and began taking medication for it. That really made me feel like a failure as a Christian. I mean, after all, if I was a strong Christian, I should not get depressed to that point, right?

It was encouraging to me to discover that two great preachers also struggled with depression. Charles Haddon Spurgeon once said, “I am the subject of depressions of spirit so fearful that I hope none of you ever get to such extremes of wretchedness as I go to.” Another great preacher, Dr. John Henry Jowett once wrote, “You seem to imagine I have no ups and downs, but just a level and lofty stretch of spiritual attainment with unbroken joy and equanimity. By no means! I am often perfectly wretched and everything appears most murky.”

Each of us needs encouragement from time to time,

• as we seek to live for Christ in a world that makes this increasingly difficult,
• as we struggle to develop and strengthen relationships,
• as we strive to serve Christ,
• and as we face life’s trials.

There were a number of contributing factors to my clinical depression: a life of taking lots of different medications, spiritual struggles that I did not know how to handle, and post polio syndrome (PPS). Interestingly, depression and chronic fatigue are two companions of PPS. And believe me, that is discouraging at times!

Paul knew what it was to be discouraged. He wrote to the Corinthian believers, "For we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. (2 Cor 1:8 ESV, www.bible.logos.com). Paul learned that God, both, could and would see him through. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort" (2 Cor 1:3 ESV).

The Christian has been given two great sources of encouragement: a living relationship with God and the fellowship of other Christians. Need some encouragement? God is the God of all mercy and comfort.

When you are depressed, you may not feel His presence, but He is there with you. Talk to Him; read His Word and let Him speak back to you. When you are depressed, you feel like withdrawing from people. That will only make things more lonely and darker. Seek the fellowship of other Christians.