Discouragement is a trap
Ruth, the woman who I was married to for over 40 years would be celebrating her 72nd birthday in a few days. She has now gone to be with the Lord. He has blessed me with a wonderful, growing relationship with a great woman. A relationship in which I'm very happy. However, when you've lived with someone for over 40 years you will never forget them. About 3:30 AM., one recent morning, after getting up to go to the bathroom, I wasn’t able go back to sleep. I started thinking about the good days and the bad days the ups and the downs of the more than 40 years Ruth and I were together. As I lay there thanking God for all of those days, good and bad, the words of a song, that was played at a Memorial Service at my church, not long ago, came to mind. The thing that struck me during the time of reflections, were the comments that no matter how sick, or how much pain this man was in he never complained.
A few days ago a Facebook friend writing a post on his birthday, thanked God for all of the things, good and bad, that had happened in his life. He included some of the lyrics I heard at the Memorial Service, in his post. Those lyrics kept running through my mind as I lay there. I could not get to sleep until I got up and started writing. I believe that was the Holy Spirit.
The lyrics are from the gospel song “I Won't Complain. The original song was written by Rev. Don Johnson an Apostolic preacher from Nashville, Tennessee, in 1974. His original title was "I Can't Complain". The name, and some of the lyrics were changed from “I can’t complain to “I won’t complain”. The most popular arrangement of “I Won’t Complain was recorded by Rev. Paul Jones. The lyrics that kept running through my mind are;
I've had some good days
I've had some hills to climb
I've had some weary days
And some lonely nights
But when I look around and I think
Things over...all of my good days,
They outweigh my weary days - I won't complain
A few days ago a Facebook friend writing a post on his birthday, thanked God for all of the things, good and bad, that had happened in his life. He included some of the lyrics I heard at the Memorial Service, in his post. Those lyrics kept running through my mind as I lay there. I could not get to sleep until I got up and started writing. I believe that was the Holy Spirit.
The lyrics are from the gospel song “I Won't Complain. The original song was written by Rev. Don Johnson an Apostolic preacher from Nashville, Tennessee, in 1974. His original title was "I Can't Complain". The name, and some of the lyrics were changed from “I can’t complain to “I won’t complain”. The most popular arrangement of “I Won’t Complain was recorded by Rev. Paul Jones. The lyrics that kept running through my mind are;
I've had some good days
I've had some hills to climb
I've had some weary days
And some lonely nights
But when I look around and I think
Things over...all of my good days,
They outweigh my weary days - I won't complain
What Do Those Lyrics Have To Do With This Post?
As the song says, we've all had some good days and we’ve had some weary days but the good days outweigh the bad days, so we shouldn’t complain and fall into the trap of discouragement.
We’re told that once we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior we become God’s children with all the blessings that go along with it. We look forward to that especially if our lives have been a mess. What we hear are the blessings, we don’t hear that salvation doesn’t mean that we will have smooth sailing for the rest of our lives on earth. We’re not told, or we didn’t remember, or don’t want to remember, that God promises us that even in the tough times, the weary days, He will never leave or forsake us;
Hebrews 13:5 (NLT)5 Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.”
We don’t remember, or don’t want to remember, that Jesus said that we shouldn’t worry about material things because God knows that we need them.
Matthew 6:31-34 (NLT)31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.34 “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
We forget that Jesus told His disciples, that they would face trials and tribulation but that they shouldn’t lose heart because He has overcome the world.
John 16:32-33 (NLT)32 But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when you will be scattered, each one going his own way, leaving me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me.33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
As the song says, we've all had some good days and we’ve had some weary days but the good days outweigh the bad days, so we shouldn’t complain and fall into the trap of discouragement.
We’re told that once we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior we become God’s children with all the blessings that go along with it. We look forward to that especially if our lives have been a mess. What we hear are the blessings, we don’t hear that salvation doesn’t mean that we will have smooth sailing for the rest of our lives on earth. We’re not told, or we didn’t remember, or don’t want to remember, that God promises us that even in the tough times, the weary days, He will never leave or forsake us;
Hebrews 13:5 (NLT)5 Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.”
We don’t remember, or don’t want to remember, that Jesus said that we shouldn’t worry about material things because God knows that we need them.
Matthew 6:31-34 (NLT)31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.34 “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
We forget that Jesus told His disciples, that they would face trials and tribulation but that they shouldn’t lose heart because He has overcome the world.
John 16:32-33 (NLT)32 But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when you will be scattered, each one going his own way, leaving me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me.33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
Disappointment can hang over you like a storm cloud.
Unmet Expectations
Our expectations are that we won’t ever have to deal with disappointment, that every day will be perfect, no worries, no sickness, no sorrow. But when those things come our emotional response is disappointment. If we’re not careful that disappointment can become discouragement.
Discouragement is dissatisfaction with the past, distaste for the present, and distrust of the future. It is ingratitude for the blessings of yesterday, indifference to the opportunities of today, and insecurity regarding strength for tomorrow. It is unawareness of the presence of beauty, unconcern for the needs of our fellow man, and unbelief in the promises of old. It is impatience with time, immaturity of thought, and impoliteness to God. - William Ward.
Discouragement hangs over us like a dense cloud. Like the one that hung over the head of the Li’l Abner cartoon character, Joe Btsfplk.
When you fall into the trap of discouragement, there is no joy or contentment, no matter what you do.
I call it a trap because as I’ve written before we are constantly engaged in spiritual warfare, and In spiritual warfare the weapons are not physical they are spiritual and the battlefield is your mind (The Mind is the Battlefield of in Spiritual Warfare).
Ephesians 6:12 (NLT)12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
It’s your enemy, Satan’s, objective for you to question or to blame God for every discouraging thing that’s happening to you. He puts it in your mind that after all if God is all powerful He would keep those discouraging things from happening to you.
The circumstances that trigger disappointment may be unavoidable, but the way we respond is a choice. We can either let the disappointment overwhelm us or we can face the situation with courage and take it to the One who can help us through them. Remember He promised to never leave or forsake us.
Our expectations are that we won’t ever have to deal with disappointment, that every day will be perfect, no worries, no sickness, no sorrow. But when those things come our emotional response is disappointment. If we’re not careful that disappointment can become discouragement.
Discouragement is dissatisfaction with the past, distaste for the present, and distrust of the future. It is ingratitude for the blessings of yesterday, indifference to the opportunities of today, and insecurity regarding strength for tomorrow. It is unawareness of the presence of beauty, unconcern for the needs of our fellow man, and unbelief in the promises of old. It is impatience with time, immaturity of thought, and impoliteness to God. - William Ward.
Discouragement hangs over us like a dense cloud. Like the one that hung over the head of the Li’l Abner cartoon character, Joe Btsfplk.
When you fall into the trap of discouragement, there is no joy or contentment, no matter what you do.
I call it a trap because as I’ve written before we are constantly engaged in spiritual warfare, and In spiritual warfare the weapons are not physical they are spiritual and the battlefield is your mind (The Mind is the Battlefield of in Spiritual Warfare).
Ephesians 6:12 (NLT)12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
It’s your enemy, Satan’s, objective for you to question or to blame God for every discouraging thing that’s happening to you. He puts it in your mind that after all if God is all powerful He would keep those discouraging things from happening to you.
The circumstances that trigger disappointment may be unavoidable, but the way we respond is a choice. We can either let the disappointment overwhelm us or we can face the situation with courage and take it to the One who can help us through them. Remember He promised to never leave or forsake us.
Why Doesn’t God Just Make It So We Never Have Tough Times?
Habakkuk 1:2 (NLT)2 How long, O LORD, must I call for help? But you do not listen! “Violence is everywhere!” I cry, but you do not come to save.
It doesn't seem fair, does it? In our minds, the Lord should protect His loyal followers from hardships, but He doesn't always do so.
From God's perspective, suffering is what produces faithful Christians. If we all had lives of ease without opposition, trials, or pain, we'd never really know God, because we'd never need Him. Like it or not, adversity teaches us more about God than just reading the Bible ever will. Yes we should study and know Scripture, that’s one of the things that I keep stressing in this and the other blogs that I write, but unless what we believe is never tested by adversity, we will never really know if what the scriptures say is true.
I’ve been through many trials and I can tell you from, first hand experience, that it’s True. In the more than 40 years that Ruth and I were married I can think of several times, because of poor decisions, we were at the end of our resources and had no idea where, other than our trust in God, how we could pay our mortgage, or rent, or eat. We remembered that He said that He already knew that we needed those things, and that He would not forsake us. Although we didn’t know how we knew that He would provide. He did every time. We were disappointed when those decisions didn’t work out, but we never became discouraged. God doesn’t cause but He allows trials and tribulations and when we exercise our faith in Him through the process we will always find Him faithful.
Depending on your response, trials can be God's greatest means of building faith or they can be an avenue to discouragement and self-pity. If you'll believe what God says in His Word, and apply its principles to your situation, your trust in God will grow, and your faith will be strengthened through trial.
Isaiah 41:10 (NLT)10 Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.
Joshua 1:9 (NLT)9 This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
Put your hope in God who loves you.
We all face disappointment from time to time, but don’t fall into it’s trap. When you fall into the trap of discouragement you can’t focus on anything other than the current circumstance. Discouragement if not dealt with can become depression. When you are trapped by discouragement you make poor decisions based on emotion not truth. Then our natural tendency is to look for someone to blame. You start to blame yourself, other people even God. God wants us to trust Him with everything including our unmet expectations.
Psalm 42:11 (NLT)11 Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again— my Savior and my God!
Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT)11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
Remember God’s purpose for you.
Romans 8:28-30 (NLT)28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.29 For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.30 And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory.
In God Your good days will always outweigh your weary days….don’t complain!
Habakkuk 1:2 (NLT)2 How long, O LORD, must I call for help? But you do not listen! “Violence is everywhere!” I cry, but you do not come to save.
It doesn't seem fair, does it? In our minds, the Lord should protect His loyal followers from hardships, but He doesn't always do so.
From God's perspective, suffering is what produces faithful Christians. If we all had lives of ease without opposition, trials, or pain, we'd never really know God, because we'd never need Him. Like it or not, adversity teaches us more about God than just reading the Bible ever will. Yes we should study and know Scripture, that’s one of the things that I keep stressing in this and the other blogs that I write, but unless what we believe is never tested by adversity, we will never really know if what the scriptures say is true.
I’ve been through many trials and I can tell you from, first hand experience, that it’s True. In the more than 40 years that Ruth and I were married I can think of several times, because of poor decisions, we were at the end of our resources and had no idea where, other than our trust in God, how we could pay our mortgage, or rent, or eat. We remembered that He said that He already knew that we needed those things, and that He would not forsake us. Although we didn’t know how we knew that He would provide. He did every time. We were disappointed when those decisions didn’t work out, but we never became discouraged. God doesn’t cause but He allows trials and tribulations and when we exercise our faith in Him through the process we will always find Him faithful.
Depending on your response, trials can be God's greatest means of building faith or they can be an avenue to discouragement and self-pity. If you'll believe what God says in His Word, and apply its principles to your situation, your trust in God will grow, and your faith will be strengthened through trial.
Isaiah 41:10 (NLT)10 Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.
Joshua 1:9 (NLT)9 This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
Put your hope in God who loves you.
We all face disappointment from time to time, but don’t fall into it’s trap. When you fall into the trap of discouragement you can’t focus on anything other than the current circumstance. Discouragement if not dealt with can become depression. When you are trapped by discouragement you make poor decisions based on emotion not truth. Then our natural tendency is to look for someone to blame. You start to blame yourself, other people even God. God wants us to trust Him with everything including our unmet expectations.
Psalm 42:11 (NLT)11 Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again— my Savior and my God!
Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT)11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
Remember God’s purpose for you.
Romans 8:28-30 (NLT)28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.29 For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.30 And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory.
In God Your good days will always outweigh your weary days….don’t complain!
I Won’t Complain
Here are the complete lyrics to the song “I Won't Complain” as recorded by Rev. Paul Jones
I've had some good days
I've had some hills to climb
I've had some weary days
And some lonely nights
But when I look around and I think
Things over...all of my good days,
They outweigh my weary days - I won't complain
Sometimes my clouds hang low
I can hardly see the road
I ask the question-"Lord...Why so much pain?"
But He knows what's best for me
Although my weary eyes cannot see
And I say, Thank you Lord - I won't complain...
He dries all my tears away
Turn my dark nights into days
And I say, Thank you Lord - I won't complain...
God has been good to me
He's been so good to me
Better than you or this old world could ever be
He's been so good, He's been so good to me...
He dries all my tears away
Turn my dark nights into days
And I say, Thank you Lord...
When my friends turn their backs on me, Thank you, Lord
When the bills are due, Thank you, Lord
In the midnight hour, Thank you, Lord
I won't complain
If you want to download the song and add it to your music library. Here's the LINK to a great arrangement.
Editor's Note: This post was originally published in August 2016 and was modified today 8-15-17 to update it.
Here are the complete lyrics to the song “I Won't Complain” as recorded by Rev. Paul Jones
I've had some good days
I've had some hills to climb
I've had some weary days
And some lonely nights
But when I look around and I think
Things over...all of my good days,
They outweigh my weary days - I won't complain
Sometimes my clouds hang low
I can hardly see the road
I ask the question-"Lord...Why so much pain?"
But He knows what's best for me
Although my weary eyes cannot see
And I say, Thank you Lord - I won't complain...
He dries all my tears away
Turn my dark nights into days
And I say, Thank you Lord - I won't complain...
God has been good to me
He's been so good to me
Better than you or this old world could ever be
He's been so good, He's been so good to me...
He dries all my tears away
Turn my dark nights into days
And I say, Thank you Lord...
When my friends turn their backs on me, Thank you, Lord
When the bills are due, Thank you, Lord
In the midnight hour, Thank you, Lord
I won't complain
If you want to download the song and add it to your music library. Here's the LINK to a great arrangement.
Editor's Note: This post was originally published in August 2016 and was modified today 8-15-17 to update it.
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