5 THINGS TO REMEMBER WHEN YOU’RE DISCOURAGED WITH GOD

Are you feeling down and discouraged, wondering where God is in your life? Even the most faithful believer can experience times of hopelessness and defeat. What do you do when you keep casting your nets and come up empty? There are five things you need to remember to overcome discouragement with God.

WHAT IS DISCOURAGEMENT?

The word discouragement comes from the root word courage. The prefix dis- means “the opposite of.” So discouragement is the opposite of courage. The dictionary definition of discouragement also includes this description: a loss of confidence, courage, or enthusiasm or the feeling of despair in the face of obstacles.

When we are discouraged, we have lost our passion and purpose. We are hesitant or even afraid to take the next right step because the mountain seems too high, the valley too deep, or the battle too intense.

As defined by the Bible dictionary, Biblical discouragement is “a sense of unhappiness arising from a loss of confidence in one’s own abilities, in the reliability of God or in the power of the gospel.” 

Discouragement is dissatisfaction with the past, distaste for the present, and distrust of the future. It is ingratitude for the blessings of yesterday, indifference to the opportunities of today, and insecurity regarding strength for tomorrow.

William Ward

When we are discouraged, we may feel like David who cries out in the Psalms:

O LORD, how long will you forget me? Forever?

How long will you look the other way?

How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul, with sorrow in my heart every day?

How long will my enemy have the upper hand?

Psalm 13: 1-2 (NLT)

A STORY OF DISCOURAGEMENT FROM THE BIBLE

There are numerous men and women in the Bible who struggled with times of discouragement. Joseph was sold into slavery by his very own brothers, Moses tried to lead stubborn and disobedient people into God’s Promised Land, and Hannah was mocked and ridiculed as she prayed for years for a child. What about Elijah running into the desert, begging God to take his life, Job losing everything he had, Esther having to risk her life to save her people, and David, who repeatedly pours out his anguish and despair in the Psalms?

So, if you are struggling with discouragement, doubt, and disappointment, you are in good company! There is nothing wrong with you, you do not lack faith, and God is not disappointed.

PETER MEETS JESUS IN THE MIDDLE OF HIS DISCOURAGEMENT

Peter was one of Jesus’ disciples who also struggled with discouragement. As I was reading the New Testament, I discovered that Peter, who was a fisherman, had two encounters with Jesus where his nets were empty. As someone who depended on catching fish as their livelihood, we can understand why this would be discouraging. Empty nets meant no fish to sell to earn a living. Empty nets meant no food for their families. Empty nets meant more long hours and extra work.

There are two times in the Bible when Jesus intervenes in the life of Peter, who has cast his nets and come up empty.

The first takes place when Jesus first calls Peter, who was then named Simon, to follow him:

When he [Jesus] had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish.” “Master,” Simon replied, “We worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.” And this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear!  A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat, and soon both boats were filled with fish and on the verge of sinking. When Simon Peter realized what had happened, he fell to his knees before Jesus and said, “Oh, Lord, please leave me—I’m such a sinful man.” For he was awestruck by the number of fish they had caught, as were the others with him. His partners, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were also amazed. Jesus replied to Simon, “Don’t be afraid! From now on you’ll be fishing for people!” And as soon as they landed, they left everything and followed Jesus.

Luke 5:4-11 (NLT)

Let’s pause and talk about net fishing for a moment because if you are not a fisherman (like me!), this may not mean much to you.

Since I do not know very much about fishing, I turned to some experts for help. When I think of fishing, I imagine someone standing on the water’s edge or in a boat with a fishing rod, hook, and bait. Net fishing is entirely different:

All of the fishermen in the New Testament fished with nets. They cast the nets off the side of the boat, drug them through the water, and then hauled up whatever was caught along the way. Many of us have never fished that way but you’ve probably seen it.

Clark Bunch, Three Fishing Lessons from the Disciples

The standard Greek lexicon speaks of the net as circular, having heavy weights around its perimeter Fishermen would either stand on the shore and repeatedly cast their nets into the water, or drop their nets from a boat. The occupation of a fisherman was rather labor-intensive.

Fishing in the New Testament, Daniel B. Wallace

Why is this important to know when looking at this story?

Peter is an experienced fisherman. He does not know who Jesus is, but he does know that there are NO fish to be caught. So, when Jesus tells him to cast his nets once again, it takes an incredible amount of faith to do what toiling all night and coming up empty-handed has already proven to him. But he does it anyway. Despite defeat, discouragement, and doubt.

JESUS SPEAKS AGAIN TO PETER’S DISCOURAGEMENT

The next time Jesus asks Peter and the other fishermen (who had also become Jesus’ disciples) to cast their nets, it is post Resurrection. It is important to note that the disciples knew Jesus was gone but did not know what they should do next. Peter, a fisherman by trade, decided to go fishing. It was what he knew how to do. The others agreed to join him, but, once again, after endlessly casting their nets all night, they came back empty.

After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way. Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.”  He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish.  That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea. The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off.

John 21:1-8 (ESV)

Although Peter does not recognize Jesus at first, he again listens to his command. Another strange directive that would make little sense to an experienced fisherman, there was no logical reason why fishing on one side of the boat would be better than the other side. Maybe somewhere in the back of Peter’s mind, it rang familiar. Scripture does not tell us, but what we do know is that as soon as John recognizes the man on the shore as Jesus, Peter wastes no time jumping from the boat and getting to his resurrected Savior as quickly as possible could. Seeing Jesus again turned his discouragement into joy.

WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES US ABOUT DISCOURAGEMENT

Our faith journeys can sometimes feel a lot like fishing. We set out in our boats, cast our nets, wait in the dark of night, and often come back empty. When we seek measurable results (like nets that are bursting with an abundant catch), discouragement sets in when our wholehearted efforts yield very little to nothing. This kind of discouragement can lead us to doubt ourselves, distrust God, and keep our faith at a distance.

I believe that one of the reasons that God’s Word is so full of encouragement is because God knew that there would be many people, places, and situations that would discourage us as followers of Christ.

5 THINGS TO REMEMBER WHEN YOU ARE DISCOURAGED

Bring God Your Nothing

The story of Peter is such an encouraging reminder that we can bring our nothing to God! Jesus did not accuse Peter of being a lousy fisherman or ridicule him for not catching anything. He offered Peter another way instead. So when you are depleted with nothing left to give, offer your emptiness to God and let Him do the filling.

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Matthew 11:28 (NIV)

Wait to Hear God’s Voice

Isn’t it interesting in both stories that Peter followed Jesus’ advice without knowing who He was first? That could mean that Peter had a sensitive spirit that was open and ready to hear God’s voice. Sometimes we rush ahead to overcome our discouragement by using our strength, willpower, and initiative. God may be asking us to wait, be still, and listen for His directions (even when we may not completely understand them!).

Trust God from the bottom of your heart, don’t try to figure everything out on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (The Message)

Focus on Your Response Instead of Your Results

It is easy to read the stories of Jesus miraculously filling Peter’s nets with fish and focus on the results, right? He listened to what Jesus told him to do and caught tons of fish! And we wonder if there is some formula we can follow to achieve similar success. But we miss the whole point of the story if we only focus on the results. The most incredible takeaway is not that Peter’s net was overflowing to the point of breaking because he followed Jesus’s instructions but instead that he obeyed even when he did not understand. God is much more concerned with our response than He is with our results.

And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him

Hebrews 11:6 (NLT)

Trust God to Do the Impossible

As we study this account as an antidote to discouragement, we need to remember that Peter didn’t fill his net with fish; Jesus did. Peter trusted Jesus with what he thought was impossible. We serve a big God who can show up in big ways if we let go of our expectations, limitations, and doubts. God can and will make a way through our discouragement if we have the kind of faith that believes in an all-powerful God.

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Matthew 19:26 (ESV)

Keep Casting Your Nets

When did Peter cast his nets? Before he met Jesus, while he was a disciple of Jesus, and after Jesus left his earth. Peter never stopped fishing. We can see this play out in his life, not only literally but also figuratively. When Peter first meets Jesus, he calls him to be a “fisher of people” (Luke 5:10). After Peter answered this call, Jesus sent him out to continue to reach souls with the truth of the gospel. Many of us who have decided to follow Jesus can get discouraged when the call seems too complicated, life gets busy, or we grow weary of coming up empty-handed. However, Jesus calls us to stay in the boat and keep casting our nets. As Mother Teresa once said: “God has not called me to be successful; He has called me to be faithful.

So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.

Galatians 6:9 (NLT)

SEEKING ENCOURAGEMENT WHEN YOU ARE DISCOURAGED

Dear friend, if you are experiencing discouragement on your faith journey, I want to be the one to encourage you! I know what it feels like to be overlooked, rejected, and ignored. I understand the weariness that comes from repeatedly casting your nets (i.e., putting yourself out there!) and coming up empty.

So let me encourage you today by sending you to check out my FREE FAITH PRINTABLES page to find guides on prayer, soul care, and spiritual breakthroughs. And if you are stuck on your faith journey and don’t know how to take the next right step, check out my START HERE page for free resources, support, and encouragement.

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