Christian blog posts

In this life, you will never miss to find discouragers. This are people who look for every opportunity to surp your energy in doing God’s work, and many times, they always look for ways of making you feel how unworthy you are, on a certain work, ministry and calling that God has placed in your life. Amazingly, these groups of people are never foreigners. They come from the list of friends and family that you like the most. Infact, your best discouragers in time of need is someone you look-up to, whenever you are in dire need. Some from the friends, family and relatives who know, or have known your weakness at some point, or who you really have sat, shared and encouraged one another some time back.

I shared here sometime back how Yitzhak Rabin, the commander of Israel’s military in 1967, ran for someone he trusted for advice, but what was waiting for him was discouragement. As Israel’s founding father, many in Israel loved Ben Gurion, and treated him as an elder statesman, including Mr Yitzhak Rabin. By the time he was going to seek such advice, Egypt was about to invade Israel, and as the Army Commander, all the weight of the war was on his shoulders. The country was looking on him-but in this moment of crisis, all eyes turned to the founding father of Israel Mr David Ben-Gurion, the man who led Israel from the dark days of the war of independence in 1948.. Seating at his feet and waiting for the encouragement he need. “The old man received me warmly, Rabin says, ‘but instead of fortifying my spirits, he gave me a dressing down. He said to him,” You’ve led the state of Israel into a grave situation, and you’ve to bear the responsibility for it! When i left him, Yitzhak continues, i was despondent and it would be days before his words stopped ringing in my ears! Immediately, after hearing this words from the man he trusted the most, Mr Rabin sunk into depression. Yitzhak as head of the army, was a man under intense physical and emotional pressure. His mental anguish, as days went by, had becomes obvious. Deputy military commander Zvi Dinstein noticed his boss’s lack of sense in his talks, as he claimed to hear noises of bombardments from other sources.. As far as they were concerned, as Zvi says, “there was no noise, yet their General was panicking on a broad daylight. In this moment of mental anguish, Yitzhak collapsed and had to be rushed to hospital. The general public was anxiously waiting to get news from the head of the army on the way forward, yet little did they know, “he was depressed because of a discouraging word from the man he trusted the most-Mr Ben Gurion.The Prime Minister of the country, Mr Levi Eshkol even remarked, “Can you imagine at this moment, if the general public heard that the chief of staff has collapsed, what kind of depression it would cause to our nation? All this was hid under wraps, and no citizen, plus the enemies of Israel knew of Rabin’s depressed state, until later when he wrote it in his book.

 It’s not Rabin alone who faced discouragement from those he loved, but even our Savior Jesus had his lot. When the ministry of Jesus had taken root among his people, it was met with resistance, regardless of the wonderful results of the same. His band of discouragers were a group of people who come from his hometown. They were amazed, not that they liked him, but they wondered “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers? ”Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” And they took offense at him.But Jesus reply was quick, ”A prophet is not without honor except in his own town and in his own home.[Mathew 13:55-57]

Whenever you’re doing a great work, the devil at times can come through to pin you down with discouragements, from the people you know and love.  Nehemiah too, as he got involved in the work of rebuilding the temple of God, he also had a band of discouragers talking down his work. Sanballat was very angry when he learned that they were rebuilding the wall. He flew into a rage and mocked the Jews, saying in front of his friends and the Samarian army officers, “What does this bunch of poor, feeble Jews think they’re doing? Do they think they can build the wall in a single day by just offering a few sacrifices? Do they actually think they can make something of stones from a rubbish heap—and charred ones at that? ”He continued, that stone wall would collapse if even a fox walked along the top of it!”[Nehemia 4:1-3]

Saint of God, what work are you involved in for the Lord and who are your major discouragers? Don’t loose heart and give-in to the pressure of the devil. Be like Nehemiah. When he heard that, he prayed, “Hear us, our God, for we are being mocked. May their scoffing fall back on their own heads, and may they themselves become captives in a foreign land! Do not ignore their guilt. Do not blot out their sins, for they have provoked you to anger here in front of the builders.”[Nehemia 4:1-3].

In every moment of discouragement, cry to the Lord and continue with the work. Nehemiah finished the wall, Jesus finished his ministry and the devil and his angels that surrounded them gave up. May God help us all. Gob less you