Ask God to help you recognize the devil’s tactics and refute his efforts in your life.
Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada with a strong word about discouragement.
And it’s strong because, for me, it’s so personal. When I think about a button that the devil can push to really get to me, it’s “discouragement”. Sometimes I can even be about the Spirit-blessed work of the Lord, and I can feel discouraged. Maybe my hip pain kicks in from sitting in my wheelchair, or my quadriplegia makes my breathing labored and hard, I feel faint, and I just can’t get done all that I had hoped I could get done, and out of nowhere I will think, “What’s the use; why even try, I feel like throwing in the towel.” And you know what, I'm not alone.
Ezra 4 describes the strategy that the devil uses against God's people. It is to “discourage the people and make them afraid, to work against them and frustrate their plans.” Wow! I mean there it is, written out, right there in Ezra 4. That’s the devil’s strategy against me and you: “To discourage you and to make you afraid; to work against you and to frustrate your plans.” There it is, the enemy wants to isolate you and to separate you from the rest of God's children. He wants to make you feel as though your efforts are wasted and your life is useless.
I know that I’ve got to force myself to remember that discouragement is that special button the devil will use against me every time and we can’t allow him to isolate us, can we, or discourage us! Let me underscore that with this story about Dorothy Williams who was a British missionary serving in West Africa during the 1930's. Dorothy was a nurse from Wales and spent her time on the mission field training African nurses. This amazed her mission board back home because Dorothy was very frail; they didn't expect her to last but a year or two working in Africa! But with God's help, she refused to be discouraged by her limitations. And this inspired the young African nurses under her charge who were often disheartened by their own poverty and lack of resources.
In fact, one day a young African nurse was carrying a tray of surgical instruments, and Dorothy noticed a sad look in her student's eyes. "Oh, Mum, I am feeling so much afraid today," to which Dorothy replied, "Dearie, look at these shiny instruments on your tray." The old missionary picked up the one with the sharpest point, and then she added: "The devil has a tray of instruments, too, and the shiniest and sharpest is his tool of discouragement, it's sharp because he uses it so often." The nurse smiled, blushed, and then went on her way with fresh resolve.
And you can move forward with fresh resolve today, too. When you feel discouraged, remember that the Bible repeats 112 times, "Do not be afraid." And Dorothy, our missionary friend, would add, "Do not be discouraged." Listen, friend, you have your own shiny, sharp tool: it’s the Word of God. Hebrews 4 says that it is sharper than any two-edged sword, so keep it sharp by using it often against your adversary! Don’t allow the devil to cause you to feel isolated from fellow believers. Open your eyes to the schemes of the adversary [the same he used against God's people in Ezra 4]. Recognize the devil’s tactics and refute his efforts in your life. One more thing – Romans 12:7 says that when we serve, we should do it well. Learn how to serve well by signing up as an intern with Joni and Friends. Get all the details at joniradio.org. Again, that’s joniradio.org. God bless you today and thanks for listening!
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