Voices of Discouragement

The builders got tired and discouraged. They said, “The strength of the laborers is giving out, and there is so much rubble that we cannot rebuild the wall’” (Nehemiah 4:10). I believe that discouragement comes in three steps. First, we lose our strength. Second, we lose our vision. And finally, we enter into a spiritual compromise.

Let’s consider these steps of discouragement.

Loss of Strength

Many times discouragement comes when you are physically drained. I remember reading the story of a prominent Christian leader’s affair. While offering no excuses, he noted that the temptation and sin took place when he was physically exhausted. Physical exhaustion affects our will. After a while, there doesn’t seem to be enough inner strength to keep going. Discouragement makes you feel isolated and alone, even from God. The loss of spiritual strength is a nail in the coffin of discouragement.

Loss of Vision

Nehemiah’s men worked hard. They gave it everything they had. The wall was half its height—that should have been encouraging. In the midst of ridicule and doubt, they kept on building. Nehemiah reported, “So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart” (Nehemiah 4:6).

Unfortunately, not everyone was optimistic. “The people in Judah said, ‘The strength of the laborers is giving out, and there is so much rubble that we cannot rebuild the wall’” (4:10). What a classic example of seeing the glass half empty! “Forget what we’ve done; there is so much left to do.”

Spiritual Compromise

Spiritual compromise can be the result of discouragement. After the wall had been rebuilt, many of the Jews decided to ignore God’s command to rest on the Sabbath. They wanted to make a little extra money. Also, in yet another act of disobedience, many of the Jews decided to take wives from the surrounding nations. No wonder the men of Judah saw the rubble on the ground instead of the wall that had been built. No wonder they became discouraged and spread discouragement. They were living in spiritual compromise.

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Voices of Discouragement

Let’s consider these steps of discouragement.

Loss of Strength

Many times discouragement comes when you are physically drained. I remember reading the story of a prominent Christian leader’s affair. While offering no excuses, he noted that the temptation and sin took place when he was physically exhausted. Physical exhaustion affects our will. After a while, there doesn’t seem to be enough inner strength to keep going. Discouragement makes you feel isolated and alone, even from God. The loss of spiritual strength is a nail in the coffin of discouragement.

Loss of Vision

Nehemiah’s men worked hard. They gave it everything they had. The wall was half its height—that should have been encouraging. In the midst of ridicule and doubt, they kept on building. Nehemiah reported, “So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart” (Nehemiah 4:6).

Unfortunately, not everyone was optimistic. “The people in Judah said, ‘The strength of the laborers is giving out, and there is so much rubble that we cannot rebuild the wall’” (4:10). What a classic example of seeing the glass half empty! “Forget what we’ve done; there is so much left to do.”

Spiritual Compromise

Spiritual compromise can be the result of discouragement. After the wall had been rebuilt, many of the Jews decided to ignore God’s command to rest on the Sabbath. They wanted to make a little extra money. Also, in yet another act of disobedience, many of the Jews decided to take wives from the surrounding nations. No wonder the men of Judah saw the rubble on the ground instead of the wall that had been built. No wonder they became discouraged and spread discouragement. They were living in spiritual compromise.

Voices of Discouragement

Let’s consider these steps of discouragement.

Loss of Strength

Many times discouragement comes when you are physically drained. I remember reading the story of a prominent Christian leader’s affair. While offering no excuses, he noted that the temptation and sin took place when he was physically exhausted. Physical exhaustion affects our will. After a while, there doesn’t seem to be enough inner strength to keep going. Discouragement makes you feel isolated and alone, even from God. The loss of spiritual strength is a nail in the coffin of discouragement.

Loss of Vision

Nehemiah’s men worked hard. They gave it everything they had. The wall was half its height—that should have been encouraging. In the midst of ridicule and doubt, they kept on building. Nehemiah reported, “So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart” (Nehemiah 4:6).

Unfortunately, not everyone was optimistic. “The people in Judah said, ‘The strength of the laborers is giving out, and there is so much rubble that we cannot rebuild the wall’” (4:10). What a classic example of seeing the glass half empty! “Forget what we’ve done; there is so much left to do.”

Spiritual Compromise

Spiritual compromise can be the result of discouragement. After the wall had been rebuilt, many of the Jews decided to ignore God’s command to rest on the Sabbath. They wanted to make a little extra money. Also, in yet another act of disobedience, many of the Jews decided to take wives from the surrounding nations. No wonder the men of Judah saw the rubble on the ground instead of the wall that had been built. No wonder they became discouraged and spread discouragement. They were living in spiritual compromise.

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