We Must Rise above It if We Would Be Victorious—A Pathway of Success Provided
By MABEL CORINNE CRAKER
DISCOURAGEMENT! The very word causes one’s head to droop, his heart to beat more slowly, his steps to lag.
Deprived entirely of courage, our ambition would cease, and suicide would be the inevitable result. Such a state is contrary to nature.
Every living creature is imbued with courage sufficient for its own happiness and for the benefit of its kind. The tiny bird timidly utters his first faint notes of song. He is evidently not entirely satisfied with his achievement, but he does not despair. Keeping his courage paramount to his environments, he acquires greater skill with each new effort.
The Christian’s life may not be perfectly attuned to Heaven, consequently discords may result from his effort to imitate the divine pattern; but so long as his eyes are heavenward and he strives on to perfection,254his life will constantly become more and more in harmony with that of his Maker.
DISCOURAGEMENT WAS UNKNOWN
Discouragement was unknown at creation. It is one of the greatest evils that undermine our spiritual constitutions. We fail to find record of an instance in which the people of God accomplished any victory while suffering from this terrible curse.
There was nothing to indicate the leveling of the massive wall of Jericho, one moment previous to the sound of the trumpet and the shout of victory by the children of Israel. The wall remained intact. It could not well be razed by human power. God supplied the need; and through faith in Him and obedience to His commands, they were able to take the city.
Had the children of Israel become discouraged at the end of the sixth day's march, this victory of theirs would never have been recorded.
DISCOURAGEMENT AND UNBELIEF
Discouragement is akin to unbelief. It is Satan-born, and appears to man in its most forceful manner when some sin committed rebounds upon the committer.
Satan is ever ready to cause us to commit sin. If he succeeds, he harassingly reminds us of it at every step of the way.
How differently God deals with us! He uses every available means to show us the snares Satan sets for our feet; yet if we are overcome, commit sin, and, seeing our condition, repent, how willing He is not only to impart full and free forgiveness, but to bestow the power to keep us from again falling into the same pit!
NOT TO REMAIN WEAKLINGS
He does not want us to remain spiritual weaklings, easily led astray. He desires us to become men and women of sterling quality. True, the standard is high. Humanity of itself is powerless to conform to its requirements. Only by completely surrendering our wills to God and grasping His promises can we hope to attain to that perfection of character which He so desires to behold in His children.
To-day we are building for eternity. We should never be satisfied with cheap, light, trashy material for our character building. Our eternal destiny is dependent upon our selection of material to use for the erection of this structure. In this we need divine guidance. We being willing, the Master Architect and Builder will strengthen every weak part of the edifice.
This process may mean the removal of some of the timbers we have thought valuable. It may mean the severing from our lives of some cherished worldly enjoyment, some plan we have devised independent of the direction of God; but let us not falter. Strength will be supplied by God to enable us to obey all His commands.
THE CABLE THAT ANCHORS
Prayer is the cable that anchors our souls to Heaven. There may be times when our petitions seem unanswered. The prophet Isaiah describes such a period in our experience. We read: "Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of His servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God." Isa. 50:10.
Notice that the scripture speaks to those who obey God and yet walk in darkness and have no light. Perhaps some huge obstacle has confronted us in our Christian experience. We are in doubt which way to go. Consequently we flee to God and implore His help. We arise and go about our duties; still darkness seems to unshroud us. There is no light. Despair appears imminent.
THE ONE WHO DIED WILL SAVE
Shall we lose courage in the One who died for us, think there is no help from Him, become despondent, and enlist under the banner of the tempter, whose forces are ever ready to lead us to defeat?
What are we to do in such a time? The scripture reads, "Let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God."
God can not be better honored than by having His children trust implicitly in Him when their pathway seems blocked and no way of escape is in view.
Christ is our Captain. He knows no defeat. The final victory will be won by Him and His forces, but we must cooperate with Him for the saving of our own souls. The battle can not be won in our behalf while we sit idly in our tents, neither will the crown of laurels be placed upon the head of him who has not learned to trust his Captain. To the courageous belongs the victor's crown.
