People Lose Heart When They Get Overwhelmed By Circumstances (3/6)
Wednesday, May 19, 2010 at 9:00PM
by jaroslavd on flckrIn this time with so many people discouraged and overwhelmed, I share these thoughts on “not losing heart.” I preached from these notes last year in May after listening to a sermon by Pastor Brian Houston from Australia. I present these ideas in six subsequent posts.
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WHEN DO PEOPLE LOSE HEART?
2. People Lose Heart When They Get Overwhelmed By Their Circumstances.
It is natural and to be expected that whenever you see the size of your challenges, to be tempted to lose heart. Young David knew to resist the temptation to lose heart when he addressed King Saul regarding the giant Goliath:
I Samuel 17:32
32 David said to Saul, "Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him."
David faced his big problems by depending and leaning on the strength of his even greater God! As the story goes, he defeated that giant and obtained the great reward of a champion.
However, David did not always have it easy in his life, yet he carried his experiences and lessons forward into his tough seasons. Even after a particularly devastating day in which his whole camp was plundered and all the women and children were carried off into captivity, David still knew not to lose heart. Instead, he made a quality decision to encourage and strengthen himself in the Lord.
1 Samuel 30:3-6
6 David was greatly distressed, for the men spoke of stoning him because the souls of them all were bitterly grieved, each man for his sons and daughters. But David encouraged and strengthened himself in the Lord his God.
After this he received a clear instruction from the Lord to pursue his enemies, and he gained back everything the enemy stole from him.
Today, we too can make a quality decision to not be discouraged, but to encourage and strengthen ourselves in the Lord. I believe that God will see our hearts turn towards Him to receive strength and wisdom, and that He will show us the next steps to victory, regardless of our circumstances!
