THE VALLEY OF DISCOURAGEMENT

SERIES: THE VALUE OF LIFE

TEXT: NUMBERS 21:1-9           

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One of the deepest valleys we go through as children of God is that of discouragement in these last days. In these verses of the Bible, we find Israel still wandering around in the wilderness because of their sin of unbelief. The ten spies gave an evil report of the Promised Land and discouraged the hearts of the people so much that they refused to go forward and as a result, brought upon themselves the judgement of God.

Even in the wilderness, the Lord was good to Israel and met their needs, but the way was long and hard and the people were prone to complain. Israel had just won a great victory through the help of God and in the very next verse they were discouraged. Why do God’s people get discouraged even when God is meeting our every need? Let’s consider:-

REASONS FOR DISCOURAGEMENT.

• Because the battles are long and hard-21:1-3.
• Israel was not prepared for this attack because some of their people were taken prisoners, but some of the leaders turned to God for help.
• They vowed to utterly destroy the Canaanites and their cities if the Lord would give them victory.
• We are in a battle-Eph. 6:12.
• This battle is long and hard. It is easy for us to be discouraged-If we are unprepared-Numbers 21:3.
• Because the way is often long and hard- V.4.
• The first victory certainly encouraged the Israelites but it’s one thing to mount up with wings as eagles, but it is quite another thing to walk and faint not- Isaiah 40:31.
• Courage in the battle must be followed by endurance in the race.
• When the Endomites would not give Israel the right of way through their land, Moses had to lead Israel East of Edom and then North through very difficult terrain.
• The way became very hard and long, the people complained again.
• It is possible for us to win the battle but lose the war.
• Because our hearts are often complaining and bitter- V.5.
• Their anger and impatience in their heart boiled over into harsh words against the Lord and Moses- 1^st10:9.
• Because our spiritual sight is often dimmed- V.5.
• They forgot God’s promises, they failed to claim them- Num.15:1.
• The manna had been multiplied to them. Manna was Angel’s food- Psalm 78:25, but the people had gotten so accustomed to their blessings that they loathed it and called it light bread.

1. Discouragement is sin.
2. Discouragement is infectious.
3. Discouragement is curable.

RESOURCES FOR ENCOURAGEMENT

• You will not find encouragement in human reasoning because the world has no spiritual answers.
• You will not find encouragement in self-pity as this will only cause the valley to deepen.
• You will find encouragement in the Lord.

1^st Samuel 30:6- “But David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.

• There is encouragement in His person- Habakkuk 3:18-19.
• When we find ourselves in the valley of discouragements we need to take a leaf out of Habakkuk’s book- don’t whistle in the dark, sing about Him who will never fail you. Paul and Silas sang in the prison.

• You will find encouragement in His presence- Heb.13:5.

• Contentment does not come from material things for they can never satisfy the heart- Luke 12:15.
• When we have God, we have all that we need.
• The material things of the world can decay or be stolen, but God will never leave us.

• There is encouragement in His power- Rom.8:31.

• The Father is for us and has proved it by giving His son- Rom.8:32. The son is for us- Rom.8:34. The Holy Spirit is for us- Rom.8:26. God is making all things work together for us- Rom.8:28.
• Like Jacob, don’t cry that all things are against you- Gen.42:36.
• We need to enter each new day realizing that God is for us- Jer.29:11.

• There is encouragement in His protection- 2^nd1:10.

• Paul saw God’s hand of deliverance whether he looked back, around or ahead, God delivers in a thousand ways.

• There is encouragement in His word- Psalm 119:28.
• There is encouragement in His promises- Deut.1:21.
• There is encouragement in the preaching of the word- 2^nd4:2.

• The word of God is what both sinner and saint need.
• Preaching must be marked by three things:-

1. Conviction (reprove).
2. Warning (rebuke).
3. Appeal (exhort).

• When you preach, “you must afflict the comfortable and comfort the affliction.”
• If there is conviction and no remedy we adds the burden on the people. If you encourage those who need to be rebuked, you assist them to sin more.

• We find encouragement in the church.

1. There is visual encouragement- Heb.10:25; Psalm 122:1.
2. There is vocal encouragement- Heb. 3:13.

CONCLUSION

• Discouragement is sin.
• Discouragement is infectious.
• Discouragement is curable.
• Are you weary and discouraged? Just come to Jesus now- Matt.11:28-30.