Your ShelfYour Projects

Why Be Discouraged?

8%

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 30, 1909

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 86, No. 52.

Read the full edition

Why Be Discouraged?

By Daniel Nettleton

DANIEL NETTLETON
“Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance,” or, as in the margin, “for his presence is salvation.” Ps. 42: 5. The Bible has much to say about the necessity of the Christian’s having faith, hope, patience, and courage. Our Heavenly Father knew that his children would have trials and difficulties; therefore these encouragements and exceeding great and precious promises.
If we were never cast down, why this question in our text? We can not assure the little child when he is learning to walk that he will never fall, but we can encourage him, when he does fall, to arise and try again. We are God’s little children. The prophet Micah says: “My God will hear me. Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be light unto me. . . . He will bring me forth to the light, and I shall behold his righteousness.”
Jesus says, “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” “We glory in tribulations,” says Paul, “knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope.” Peter says, “Think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers in Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, we may be glad also with exceeding joy.”
Earth’s greatest conqueror, Jesus, “the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God,” had trials and temptations similar to ours; but of him it is said, “He shall not fail, nor be discouraged.”
In speaking of the persecution of God’s people, the angel said, “They shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days,” “but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.” Our troubles and temptations, and even our defeats and failures, may prove a blessing in developing sturdy and hopeful character.
I have found it a great help to go through my Bible and select some of the great and precious promises, then to take them to the Lord in secret prayer and lay them before him and ask him to remember the word upon which he has caused his servant to hope. Ps. 119: 49. I have said to him, as Jeremiah said to him (Jer. 14:21), “Do not abhor us, for thy name’s sake, do not disgrace the throne of thy glory: remember, break not thy covenant with us.” And as I have thus prayed, the peace and joy of God have filled my heart, and I have gone on my way rejoicing.
“Lord, what a change within us one short hour Spent in thy presence will prevail to make! What heavy burdens from our bosoms take, What parched grounds revive, as with a shower! We kneel, and all around us seems to lower; We rise, and all the distant and the near Stand forth a sunny outline, brave and clear. We kneel, how weak! We rise, how full of power! Why, therefore, should we do ourselves the wrong, Or others, that we are not always strong; That we should ever weak or heartless be, Anxious or troubled when with us is prayer, And joy and strength and courage are with thee?”
O, defeated and discouraged brother, hope in God! He will send his angels to lift you out of the pit and the miry clay, and place your feet upon the rock, and establish your goings, and put a new song in your mouth. When thus you have come up through great tribulation, and have entered the city of pearly gates, your eyes will see the King in his beauty, and you will hear his “Well done,” and will join in the song of eternal victory.
“Ten thousand times ten thousand In sparkling raiment bright, The armies of the ransomed saints Throng up the steeps of light. ’Tis finished, all is finished, Their fight with death and sin; Open wide the pearly portals And let the victors in.”
Port Townsend, Wash.