Putting the Brakes On Discouragement

Church planting is difficult in and of itself...

Discouraging days make it even more so.

I'm convinced that whatever God calls a person to do is SO BIG that he or she cannot possibly pull it off by themselves. In fact, if what you're doing is something you can accomplish on your own, then rest assured that God most likely isn't in it.

I'm also convinced that whatever God calls a person to do will be attacked on all fronts by our mortal enemy, the devil... and one of the tools he most frequently uses on us is discouragement.

He'll whisper in your ear, "You'll never be able to pull this off..."
He'll speak through people who don't really know you and say, "You're trying to do what? Good luck!"
He'll speak through people who know you well and say, "Nah... that's not for me... I'll catch you next time."

He'll do whatever he has to in order to take your eyes off of God and His ability to accomplish the vision. And when you're paying more attention to the naysayers and the non-committed than you are to Jesus and what He's called you to do, don't be surprised when you find yourself "walking a treadmill" rather than moving forward... because lingering discouragement disconnects us from the Source of our vision... and, without Him, we can't do a daggone thing (John 15:4-5, my translation).

I'm learning some things on this journey:

I take more time off than the devil does...
This vision makes him madder than any scorned woman...
Discouragement, doubt, and the devil can be defeated when I stay on my knees...

I've said it before: Church planting has some really high highs, and some really low lows. It's a given... accept it... prepare for battle... trust and obey God in all things, and watch Him give wings to the vision!

He wants the vision for this church to be fulfilled more than I do... and He wants to fulfill it through me... otherwise He would've given it to someone else. It might be too big for me, but it isn't too big for my God.

"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations for ever and ever! Amen." (Ephesians 3:20)