Dealing with Discouragement

“When waves of trouble come, hang on even tighter. Hope is the assurance of a better future based on the promises of God.”

Have you ever gone through a time of deep discouragement? Maybe you were experiencing a slump in your walk with Jesus. Maybe you were facing a time of difficulty in your work, family, or church. The writer of Hebrews was writing to a group of people who had been under a lot of stress. They were under persecution for being Christians. Some were falling away. Some were struggling. Others still wanted to follow but were drifting.

The author encourages those believers not to give up, even during that turbulent season. In chapter 10, verses 19–25, he gives three clear steps we can take during times of trouble.

1. Draw near to God. Verse 22 urges us to “draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings.” Some believers walk as if God were a thousand miles away. Especially during troubling times, we need to draw near. In verses 19–22, we are assured that believers have VIP access to the very presence of God. The velvet rope has been moved aside. The blood of Jesus paid the price so you can enter the Most Holy Place. Now is the time to rest in God’s presence.
2. Hold on to hope. Verse 23 encourages us to “hold unswervingly to the hope we profess.” The Greek means we hold in such a way that we don’t sway to the left or right. When waves of trouble come, hang on even tighter. Hope is the assurance of a better future based on the promises of God. This life is temporary, but God is eternal. Being a faith-filled follower of Jesus means that we know Who wins. We know our future!
3. Stay involved. Verse 25 urges us not to give up meeting with other believers. This is practical advice. If you’re going to make it through a difficult time, you need to stay connected to believers who are following Jesus. Some people draw you closer to Jesus, others draw you closer to the world. During a season of discouragement, you need people who will draw you to Jesus.

Are you struggling? I encourage you to draw near to God and stay connected to fellow believers. In Christ, we can walk through difficult times, not sinking in despair but clinging to the secure future and certain hope He promises us.