The next few posts are about the importance of memorizing Bible verses. The theme of our post last week was about memorizing Bible verses to have victory over sin. This week, we are going to look at another reason to memorize Bible verses. Discouragement is something everyone deals with. It can be at work, with the family, or in your own personal life and goals. Sometimes things don’t go like we hoped they would and that causes discouragement. How do we deal with discouragement? Is it even okay to be discouraged? I think the hard truth is that discouragement is a part of life. It is okay to get discouraged, although I don’t think you should remain discouraged! Being discouraged as a result of something and remaining discouraged are two totally different things. What can we do? I believe God’s Word has the answer. We should memorize verses in the Bible to help us in times of discouragement. 

People dealt with discouragement in the Bible. Remember that David encouraged himself in the Lord. “And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.” I Samuel 30:6 David was more than just discouraged, he was scared! The people that had followed him and trusted him were now ready to kill him. I think discouragement is an understatement! What did David do in this time? He encouraged himself in the Lord. How did he do so? The Bible doesn’t specifically make that clear, but I am sure he through on how God has worked in his life before, about how God loved him and cared for him. These things will help us too!

When you are discouraged, think on these Bible verses…

• God loves you. “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.” 1 John 3:1. Maybe things are bad, but God loves you. In failure God loves you, in success God loves you, and even in discouragement God loves you!
• You are accepted. “To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.” Ephesians 1:6. If you are a believer in Jesus, you are accepted. God is not watching you to see if you can stay “good enough”, you weren’t good enough to begin with! You are accepted!
• Jesus is preparing a place for you in Heaven. “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. ² In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. ³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” John 14:1-3. This life isn’t forever, in 100,000 years you will be with Jesus. What is going on right now cannot continue forever. Things will get better!
• Jesus has offered to take your burden. “²⁸ Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30. Discouragement can be a heavy burden, but Jesus wants to take that from you. 

It is great to have these verses on file to read, but it is even better to have them in your heart, so that when you are discouraged, the Holy Spirit recalls them to you! Sometimes you don’t have a Bible handy to read, but it is always with you when you memorize Scripture!