Down and Discouraged

I know just how David felt. I have led evangelistic crusades in which thousands
at a time have come to Christ. I have helped lead multitudes of drug addicts and
alcoholics to deliverance in Jesus. My life has been full of many rich
blessings. But often, within days of these events, I have become overwhelmed
with discouragement and ended up thinking, “Lord, I haven’t accomplished
anything for You!”

That’s the work of Satan’s spirit of discouragement. It makes us a target for
the powers of hell within moments of our greatest spiritual victory!

This heavy, demonic spirit laid David so low that he was dumbfounded in God’s
presence. He said, “But I, as a deaf man, heard not; and I was as a dumb man
that opens not his mouth. Thus I was as a man that hears not, and in whose
mouth are no reproofs” (verses 13-14).

The Hebrew meaning of this last phrase is “a man who has no more answers or
arguments left.” David was saying, “Lord, I’m too discouraged to even lift my
hand up to you. I can’t pray, because I’m too confused to speak. I’m drained
and empty. I have nothing to say.”

David voiced the universal cry of the righteous soul that endures an attack of
discouragement: “I am ready to halt, and my sorrow is continually before me”
(verse 17). The word “halt” here in Hebrew means “fall.” David was telling God,
“I’m not going to make it, Lord. I’m at my absolute end and I’m about to fall!”

We can talk to God all we want about our feelings of failure. We can tell Him
about our despair over our sins and foolish mistakes. But we are never to
entertain the thought that He has abandoned us.