November 15th, 2025
by Dr. Ron Harvey
by Dr. Ron Harvey
Do you ever get discouraged? Most of us do! Sometimes things do not turn out the way we planned and it seems like God does not show up the way we prayed. This can set us back emotionally—and sometimes spiritually. Some people get away from God not because they wake up one morning and decide to rebel, but because their faith seems to have failed. That's discouragement—and it can be destructive!
This can happen to the best of us, and to the worst of us, which is to say it can happen to any of us. If you do not believe it, read scripture. Think about Elijah, Moses, David, and the early disciples. Some great people of faith in history became overwhelmed with discouragement—even to the point of depression. Such as Reformation leader Martin Luther and the mighty preacher Charles Spurgeon.
So discouragement, regardless of the reason, calls for resolution! The biblical remedy, when you are discouraged, is to find courage. The word of the Lord says, "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go?
(Joshua 1:9).
Joshua and the Hebrew people stood on the bank of the Jordan River and the challenge of conquering the Promised Land must have been frightening and threatening. They had already lost time in entering the land almost forty years earlier due to their lack of confidence in the Lord. This had been a major setback in all of their lives. Now they must muster courage to face a positive future. They did not want to fail again this must have felt overwhelming to them. So three times God commanded them to be strong and courageous (Joshua 1: 6, 7, 9). The people were being called to choose courage and put their trust in the Lord for their future.
Here is why: God said, "I will be with you wherever you go." Hey, that is good for us to know! We will all have challenges in our future that will remind us of the failures of our past. When we face these experiences, it is good to know for sure that the Lord is by our side.
Remind yourself in those challenging times that:
God is my help.
"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help
in trouble" (Psalm 46:1).
God gives me strength.
“I can do all things through Christ who gives me
strength Philippians 4:13).
God will take away my fear.
"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power,
and of love, and of a sound mind" (1 Timothy 1:7).
The Jewish spies in the Old Testament were afraid when they investigated the Promised Land earlier in their wanderings because the enemy soldiers were big and the walls were high. However, what they failed to see is that God was above them all. Had the spies put their focus on the Lord on High, they would not have been afraid. Joshua, years later, did just that and led the Hebrews to courageously march against the enemy, tear down the walls, and conquer the Promised Land. God took away their fear and He will do the same for you. Then you will be able to say: When I am discouraged, I will find courage, because I am encouraged by my Lord!
Stand strong in the Lord, my dear friends!
Devotedly yours,
Pastor Ron
This can happen to the best of us, and to the worst of us, which is to say it can happen to any of us. If you do not believe it, read scripture. Think about Elijah, Moses, David, and the early disciples. Some great people of faith in history became overwhelmed with discouragement—even to the point of depression. Such as Reformation leader Martin Luther and the mighty preacher Charles Spurgeon.
So discouragement, regardless of the reason, calls for resolution! The biblical remedy, when you are discouraged, is to find courage. The word of the Lord says, "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go?
(Joshua 1:9).
Joshua and the Hebrew people stood on the bank of the Jordan River and the challenge of conquering the Promised Land must have been frightening and threatening. They had already lost time in entering the land almost forty years earlier due to their lack of confidence in the Lord. This had been a major setback in all of their lives. Now they must muster courage to face a positive future. They did not want to fail again this must have felt overwhelming to them. So three times God commanded them to be strong and courageous (Joshua 1: 6, 7, 9). The people were being called to choose courage and put their trust in the Lord for their future.
Here is why: God said, "I will be with you wherever you go." Hey, that is good for us to know! We will all have challenges in our future that will remind us of the failures of our past. When we face these experiences, it is good to know for sure that the Lord is by our side.
Remind yourself in those challenging times that:
God is my help.
"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help
in trouble" (Psalm 46:1).
God gives me strength.
“I can do all things through Christ who gives me
strength Philippians 4:13).
God will take away my fear.
"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power,
and of love, and of a sound mind" (1 Timothy 1:7).
The Jewish spies in the Old Testament were afraid when they investigated the Promised Land earlier in their wanderings because the enemy soldiers were big and the walls were high. However, what they failed to see is that God was above them all. Had the spies put their focus on the Lord on High, they would not have been afraid. Joshua, years later, did just that and led the Hebrews to courageously march against the enemy, tear down the walls, and conquer the Promised Land. God took away their fear and He will do the same for you. Then you will be able to say: When I am discouraged, I will find courage, because I am encouraged by my Lord!
Stand strong in the Lord, my dear friends!
Devotedly yours,
Pastor Ron
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