Discouragement - Part 8 - Someone Cares

Discouragement and depression are deceptively volatile. Moods can suddenly soar to levels of reprieve and can just as quickly plummet into the depths. A significant factor regarding these extremes is whether or not the person sees himself as alone. The supporting presence of a genuine friend can cause distresses to simply melt away. Interaction with a caring friend can take overwhelming issues that had screamed out to be talked about, and can magically dispel the gloom so that those issues are no longer troubling. Indeed, a caring friend can have a tremendous impact through his supporting presence as well as through the helpful words he speaks.

The opposite is also true. If a discouraged person is alone (or perceives himself to be), the depth of his struggle can quickly compound. What in reality is only mild or moderate discouragement can quickly sink to abysmal levels. Without support, every struggle seems that much harder, and every shred of hope is more easily threatened. Unfortunately, people in despair often do feel that they are alone.

This perception of solitude is not always far from the truth. Discouraged people can cut off potential support when they feel incapable of interacting with others or when they avoid sharing any genuine revelation of their struggle. Social isolation or life circumstances can inhibit meaningful interactions with others. Through ignorance of the problem, people may not become involved, and perhaps some will even choose not to reach out in support because they do not understand, do not feel comfortable, or do not know what to say. The good news is that even in the absence of human comforters, there is a God - a heavenly Father - who always loves and cares for His children in their distress.

The knowledge of God's grace is a wonderful antidote for discouragement. "And He has said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.' Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me" (I Corinthians 12:9). God has enough grace that it does not matter how weak the believer is. It does not matter how incapable he is of helping himself. God's grace is sufficient to supply all of the strength that is needed to meet the seemingly impossible challenges.

"And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed" (II Corinthians 9:8). In fact, in the midst of impossible life situations in which one feels he cannot even cope, God can give so much grace - overflowing grace - so that the believer is not limited to merely surviving in his own life, but is able to reach out in help and ministry to others. He can do what God has placed in front of him to do.

The knowledge of God's love is a second effective remedy for discouragement. "For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38-39). People, life, and circumstances are so unpredictable. Even people with the best intentions have limitations; things happen that are outside their control. For various reasons, the love of people (or the opportunity to show that love) will fail. Such failure never happens with God's love. There is no challenge, no obstacle, no outside force, no life event, not even death itself that can separate the believer from God's love.

"And that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge" (Ephesians 3:17b-19a). This abundance of love escapes human comprehension. This love has no limit; no matter how far one goes in any direction, he cannot escape or exhaust the love of God. A believer cannot sink so low that God's love does not continue to surround him.

The knowledge of God's compassionate healing is a third powerful cure for discouragement. "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds" (Psalm 147:3). God sees every broken heart, and He also sees the cause or reason for the brokenness. Because of God's great care, He does not stand idly by. Instead, He comes alongside as a skillful doctor; He gives His healing touch, and He mends the wounds. God does not want a heart to remain in its broken condition.

“After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen, and establish you” (I Peter 5:10). This God of grace always follows up on the times of suffering by providing His own personal interaction of healing and mending. These four actions of God are designed to restore the believer's heart. God will perfect (complete thoroughly, repair). He will confirm (strengthen, steadfastly set). He will strengthen (give vigor), and He will establish (settle, lay a foundation).

The knowledge of God's undying support is a fourth restorative tonic for discouragement. "Cast your burden upon the LORD, and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken" (Psalm 55:22). God's arms are always holding His children. Not only can He carry their every burden, but He can also hold the believer himself so he will not waver or fall. With God's help, a believer can stay on his feet.

"No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it" (I Corinthians 10:13). God's support is not limited to upholding the believer in the trial, but extends to providing a way out of the distress. God knows how much is too much. He knows what each believer can bear. While it may sometimes seem that there is no answer and no escape, God always provides the way. He will not leave His children helpless in their struggle.

When no one else cares, is aware, or is capable of providing help, God can do all of those things. Oh, yes, the Heavenly Father always cares, and He always does something to help. His grace, love, healing, and tender support have no limits. God can and will take care of His hurting children because He loves them so much. There is indeed Someone who cares.

"Casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you." I Peter 5:7 (NASB)