(45) Defeating Discouragement With Others - Introduction

It’s a fact of life . . . people let us down! We rely on them for things and they don’t come through. They make mistakes, do annoying things, they blow it. They don’t keep their promises, forget, fail and frustrate. They don’t do things the way we would like them to do them. They don’t think the way we think.

And so we can become frustrated by other people . . . irritated . . . impatient . . . discouraged. Sometimes we feel like it’s no use trying because other people just keep seeming to blow it. So, how do we get victory over this frustration, irritation, impatience and discouragement?

Let me begin with some very important biblical principles for dealing with discouragement due to the behavior of unbelievers. Most of us rub shoulders with unbelievers every day and sometimes it can be quite a rub!

I have found that sometimes, believers forget the heart condition of unbelievers. It seems as though sometimes we expect them to act like we would expect believers to act. This is an unrealistic and unbiblical expectation. Scripture teaches us to expect something totally different.. It tells us that the unregenerate human nature of man desires the things that are opposed to what the Spirit of God desires (Gal. 5:17). So, if we as regenerate, born-again believers are being led by the Spirit, we will be opposed by unbelievers.

The truth is, scripture paints a very bleak picture when it comes to unbelievers and their behavior. They are, “following the course of this world, following Satan, living according to the passions of their fallen human nature (Eph. 2:2-3)” They can’t understand spiritual things (1 Cor. 2:14) and so, when we act like Christ, they won’t understand us. Jesus said, “"If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first (John 15:18).”

Some of our greatest hurts come because of unrealistic expectations. If we have more realistic expectations we will face less disappointment, irritation and discouragement. Even believers will not always act in godly ways. If we expect unbelievers to act in godly ways we are going to be hurt . . . often. We cannot expect unbelievers to act like believers. They will resist and reject us because they resist and reject Jesus. When we expect unbelievers to act like believers we set ourselves up for great frustration and discouragement if not resentment, bitterness, and anger.

One of the keys to victory over discouragement with the behavior of unbelievers is to adjust our expectations and bring them in line with scripture. Determine to love them, share Christ with them, demonstrate the character of Christ to them. Expect them to resist, reject and act ungodly. And as they do reject, resist and act in ungodly ways toward you, be determined to keep loving them and showing them Christ.

Next: (46) Remember Your Calling In Christ