While we may get discouraged from time to time, we must never allow discouragement to get a hold of us. There is a difference between you having discouragement and discouragement having you.
When you are discouraged, you are still in control, but when discouragement has you it has control.
So, we must never allow discouragement to get a hold in our lives. We must recognize it for what it is and deal with it through God’s word and God’s help under the leadership of the Holy Ghost.
Let me define discouragement in my own words. Discouragement is losing the desire and motivation to continue doing something that brings purpose and satisfaction to one’s life. As we apply this to the Christian life and the church it simply means that one has lost the desire and motivation that they possessed win they first gave their heart life to God.
There was a time when people were thrilled about going to church and working in the services of God. They derived a great deal of pleasure and satisfaction from attending church and ministering to others. But as years went by they lost their desire and motivation to attend church any longer.
