Definition and Meaning:
To discourage is to deprive of courage, hope, or confidence; to dishearten or deter. In a biblical context, discouragement can be seen as a spiritual challenge that believers face, often as a result of trials, opposition, or unmet expectations. It is a state of mind that can lead to doubt, fear, and a lack of faith in God's promises.

Biblical Instances and Teachings:

1. Discouragement in the Wilderness:
The Israelites experienced discouragement during their journey in the wilderness. Despite witnessing God's miraculous deliverance from Egypt, they frequently complained and lost heart when faced with difficulties. Numbers 21:4-5 states, "Then they set out from Mount Hor by the way of the Red Sea, to bypass the land of Edom. But the people grew impatient on the journey and spoke against God and against Moses."

2. Nehemiah's Leadership:
Nehemiah faced discouragement from both external enemies and internal strife while rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. Despite the opposition, he encouraged the people to trust in God and continue the work. Nehemiah 4:14 records his words: "After I had made an inspection, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people: 'Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and daughters, your wives and your homes.'"

3. David's Psalms:
King David often expressed feelings of discouragement in the Psalms, yet he consistently turned to God for strength and encouragement. Psalm 42:5 reflects this struggle and resolution: "Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why the unease within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him for the salvation of His presence."

4. The Apostles' Encouragement:
The early church faced persecution and discouragement, yet the apostles encouraged believers to remain steadfast. In 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 , Paul writes, "We are hard pressed on all sides, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed."

5. Jesus' Words of Comfort:
Jesus addressed the issue of discouragement by offering peace and assurance to His followers. In John 14:27 , He says, "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled; do not be afraid."

Theological Insights:

· Faith and Trust in God:
Discouragement often arises from a lack of faith or trust in God's plan. Believers are encouraged to rely on God's promises and His faithfulness, as seen in Hebrews 10:23 : "Let us hold resolutely to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful."

· The Role of Community:
The Christian community plays a vital role in combating discouragement. Believers are called to encourage one another, as stated in 1 Thessalonians 5:11 : "Therefore encourage and build one another up, just as you are already doing."

· Prayer and Scripture:
Prayer and meditation on Scripture are essential tools for overcoming discouragement. Philippians 4:6-7 advises, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Practical Application:

· Recognize and Address Discouragement:
Believers should be aware of the signs of discouragement and address them through prayer, seeking God's guidance and strength.

· Encourage Others:
Christians are called to be a source of encouragement to others, offering support and reminding them of God's promises.

· Focus on God's Promises:
Regularly reading and meditating on Scripture can help believers focus on God's promises and maintain a hopeful outlook, even in challenging times.1. (v. t.) To extinguish the courage of; to dishearten; to depress the spirits of; to deprive of confidence; to deject; -- the opposite of encourage; as, he was discouraged in his undertaking; he need not be discouraged from a like attempt.

2. (v. t.) To dishearten one with respect to; to discountenance; to seek to check by disfavoring; to deter one from; as, they discouraged his efforts.

3. (n.) Lack of courage; cowardliness.

4549. masas -- to dissolve, melt
... discourage, faint, be loosed, melt away, refuse, utterly. A primitive root;
to liquefy; figuratively, to waste (with disease), to ...
/hebrew/4549.htm - 6k

5106. nu -- to hinder, restrain, frustrate
... break, disallow, discourage, make of none effect. A primitive root; to
refuse, forbid, dissuade, or neutralize -- break, disallow ...
/hebrew/5106.htm - 6k

2865. chathath -- to be shattered or dismayed
... abolish, affright, be make afraid, amaze, beat down, discourage. A primitive
root; properly, to prostrate; hence, to break down, either ...
/hebrew/2865.htm - 6k

7533. ratsats -- to crush
... break, bruise, crush, discourage, oppress, struggle together. A primitive
root; to crack in pieces, literally or figuratively -- break ...
/hebrew/7533.htm - 6k

St. Ambrose Exhorts Parents to Train their Children to virginity.. ...
... 34. Some one may say, Do you, then, discourage marriage? ... 35. I do not then discourage
marriage, but recapitulate the advantages of holy virginity. ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter vii st ambrose exhorts.htm

Psalm CXX.
... nobody doth? Wilt thou be the only Christian?...Some deter by dissuasion,
others discourage yet more by their praise. For since ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm cxx.htm

The Sermon on the Mount.
... A too literal compliance with this negative precept would discourage thrift.
The precept is not intended to discourage the possession ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xlii the sermon on the 6.htm

Letter xvii. --Remorse and Rebellion.
... When the reproaches of your conscience, however well merited they may be, throw
you into a state of trouble and depression; when they discourage and upset you ...
/.../abandonment to divine providence/letter xvii remorse and rebellion.htm

Jesus' Conditions of Friendship.
... gracious love. Again and again Jesus seems to discourage discipleship. When ...
new Master. Why did he so discourage this earnest seeker? He ...
/.../miller/personal friendships of jesus/chapter iv jesus conditions of.htm

Joshua and the Angel
... Satan determined to put forth still further effort to weaken and discourage God's
people by holding before them their imperfections of character. ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 47 joshua and the.htm

Discouragement
... "Why, what will you do," asked Satan, "that you are so sure?". "I will
discourage his soul," replied the imp triumphantly. "That ...
/.../smith/the god of all comfort/chapter 13 discouragement.htm

How Christ is to be Made Use of as Our Life, in Case of ...
... under lively means, and notwithstanding of their serious and earnest desires and
endeavours after growth in grace, cannot but disquiet and discourage them: for ...
/.../brown/christ the way the truth and the life/chapter xxii how christ is.htm

Heavenly Worship
... people. Now, some say that this doctrine has a tendency to discourage men
from coming to Christ. ... you. But why should it discourage you? ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 3 1857/heavenly worship.htm

Mission Work in Chicago
... The enemy, of course, worked hard to discourage him and we were beginning to think
that perhaps it would be well to discourage his remaining longer with us. ...
/.../cole/trials and triumphs of faith/chapter xix mission work in.htm

Discourage (3 Occurrences)
...Discourage (3 Occurrences). Numbers 32:7 Why do you discourage the heart of the
children of Israel from going over into the land which Yahweh has given them? ...
/d/discourage.htm - 7k

Discouraged (19 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Discourage. Multi-Version Concordance
Discouraged (19 Occurrences). Colossians 3:21 Fathers ...
/d/discouraged.htm - 12k

Discouraging (2 Occurrences)
... n.) of Discourage. ... Numbers 32:7 And wherefore discourage ye the heart of the children
of Israel from going over into the land which the LORD hath given them? ...
/d/discouraging.htm - 7k

Encourage (34 Occurrences)
... with courage, spirit, or hope; to raise, or to increase, the confidence of; to animate;
enhearten; to incite; to help forward; -- the opposite of discourage. ...
/e/encourage.htm - 16k

Discomfort (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) To discourage; to deject. 2. (vt) To destroy
or disturb the comfort of; to deprive o/ quiet enjoyment ...
/d/discomfort.htm - 7k

Discords (2 Occurrences)

/d/discords.htm - 6k

Damp (1 Occurrence)
... 7. (n.) To put out, as fire; to depress or deject; to deaden; to cloud; to check
or restrain, as action or vigor; to make dull; to weaken; to discourage. ...
/d/damp.htm - 7k

Crossing (26 Occurrences)
... (BBE NAS RSV NIV). Numbers 32:7 Why do you discourage the heart of the children
of Israel from going over into the land which Yahweh has given them? (See NAS). ...
/c/crossing.htm - 14k

Reuben (73 Occurrences)
... they loyally accepted. They should not "sit here," and so discourage their
brethren who went to war beyond the Jordan. They should ...
/r/reuben.htm - 46k

Passing (177 Occurrences)
... Numbers 32:7 and why discourage ye the heart of the sons of Israel from passing
over unto the land which Jehovah hath given to them? (YLT). ...
/p/passing.htm - 36k

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