Staying Encouraged as A Christian
Believe it or not, this article was written for myself more than it was for you guys. Even though we are Christians—children of the Most High God, loved by the Creator of the universe, blessed by Christ, covered in the Blood of the Lamb—sometimes we get discouraged.
It isn’t always because we didn’t get our way. It isn’t always because things didn’t turn out the way we thought they would. Sometimes Believers get discouraged because of circumstances, because of the negative people in our lives, because of long periods of waiting. Sometimes I get discouraged because of the world we live in.
The United States is in a place of turmoil right now—politically and spiritually. Christianity is being attacked by politicians, entertainers, and public-school systems. It is no longer acceptable to teach your children about Jesus, it is no longer safe to wear Christian attire without getting scrutinized, believing in a marriage between one naturally born man and one naturally born woman is considered a hate crime, and believing in the power of prayer will get you laughed out of the room.
The world we live in, as Christians, is discouraging.
So how do we keep our heads held high today? How do we keep on believing even when everything around us tells us to just give up?
The answer is very simple—just don’t give up.
I wish I could deliver a very motivating and uplifting speech right now. I wish I could say something that would move you into action, or at least make you smile—but the truth is… you’ve just got to keep going.
Think of Jesus, of how he was constantly pressed and challenged by the Pharisees. Think of how the people of Israel rejected Him over and over; He was chased out of cities, called a liar and accused of being the devil himself. He was abandoned and betrayed and beaten by the very people He’d come to save and deliver. Christ Himself had it no easier than we do. Then again, the Word of God tells us that we would face this treatment.
Everyone will hate you because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. Mark 13:13 NIV
Notice the Bible uses the word hate here. We all know hate is a strong word—a quick search in Google will tell you that hate is to feel intense or passionate dislike for someone.
The word that catches my eye here is passionate. To passionately dislike someone would require some amount of effort and dedication. We are not talking about the way you dislike the guy who cut you off on the road, or the way you dislike the couple with the crying child on the 8-hour plane ride. To passionately dislike someone often requires some sort of personal connection and/or a frustrated relationship.
Divorced couples often share a passionate disliking toward each other. This obviously does not apply to every single divorcee but its easy to understand as an example.
Think of the way you felt when you first fell in love; how the person’s presence changed your mood, even the sound of their name made you smile. Now take all that love and sunshine and glee and reverse it into something totally dark and negative.
Hatred is the exact opposite of love.
So how can the public hate Christians without even having such a close-up or personal connection to the Body of Christ?
Let’s look at the Word once again.
But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: They hated me without reason. John 15:25 NIV
The world doesn’t need a reason to hate us. Being a Child of the Most High God, simply proclaiming the name of Jesus is enough to draw hatred out of people. But what else can you expect in a world full of darkness? When you are not a Child of God, you are a child of Satan. If you do not serve Christ, you serve the devil. If you are not living in love, then you are living in hatred.
In other words, the world hates us because they do not have love—that is, the love of Christ.
But Vay, how do I stay encouraged?
In this world full of so much hatred and darkness, you stay encouraged by remembering the love of Christ. When your prayers have not been answered, remember that God loves you. He loves you too much to simply leave you there. He will answer you; He will swoop in at just the right time. Remember how much God loves you when you feel confused and you don’t know what else to do you in your situation. Remember how Christ loved you so much that He died for you—Jesus nailed your confusion, your fear, your illness, your poverty, your loneliness, and your heartache on the Cross over two-thousand years ago. He loves you way too much for you to give up.
Stay encouraged, because every moment that you feel discouraged is a moment the devil wins.
Let Christ win. Let the Lord lift you up and lead you to success.
Be blessed in Jesus’ name!