Don't be discouraged . . . (I Peter 5:6-7)

One reason why we humans tend to worry is that we also tend to become discouraged. I'd like to start this second week of study on these verses, with a lesson on discouragement.  Here are our verses again:

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. (I Peter 5:6-7)

Then, I would like to ask you to turn with me to the Old Testament.....let's look at Zechariah 4:6:

So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty. (Zechariah 4:6)

Most of us could probably identify with Zerubbabel; as the governor of Judah, he was faced with what seemed to be an impossible task: rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem after it was destroyed. We may not be governors, but we all come under pressure. We all face daunting tasks. . . meeting deadlines, accomplishing a goal, meeting or surpassing other peoples' expectations of us. That kind of pressure can leave us overwhelmed and discouraged.

Zerubbabel had just as many challenges; inside and out. He wanted to obey God and accomplish the task he had been given. There were haters and conspirators, betrayers and liars, thieves and sworn enemies -- and that was just the "stuff" on the outside. Within himself, I'm sure that he had the same problems we do, with anxiety, fear, and discouragement. Many times, believers fail not because of opposition from the outside (friends, family, enemies) but from the lack of inner strength and courage needed to overcome discouragement.
Just like Zerubbabel, we may be facing a mountain of pressure and discouragement in our lives. We may be trying to light a fire of romance in a broken down marriage. We might be trying to renew our vision of a task that we know God gave to us, but that we've lost sight of. We could be struggling financially or academically. We might be discouraged because of our health; perhaps God has not removed a "thorn" that we've prayed about. Have we been evicted by our landlord? Laid off by our company?
Whatever our discouragement is, we can look hopefully at this verse....this is what God said to a man who was exhausted. He had come to the end of his rope, my grandma would say. He had tried everything he knew to try, and he still could not accomplish his goal -- God's goal for Zerubbabel.

God told him, "I've got this!" If we let Him, God will take over when we are discouraged and can't figure a way out.
Not by our own might.
Not by our own power.
The difference will be made by His spirit!
The victory won't come because we have suddenly come up with a plan. The victory may come because God gives us a plan. Or He moves our friends or family to help in some way. Or He makes things happen in our network of business associates. Or in our church family.  Or He just may reach down and make a miracle happen..... He still does that, you know!
If Christ carried the weight of all the sin in the world on His shoulders, then He can carry our troubles, and He can work things out for us.

Are we discouraged today?
Don't try to wrestle the reins out of His hands..... leave them in His hands and remind yourself that "He's got this!"