Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  8000 The life of the believer  »  8700 Threats to the life of faith  »  8713 discouragement

A sense of unhappiness arising from a loss of confidence in one's own abilities, in the reliability of God or in the power of the gospel. Discouragement can occur in the Christian life, especially when there is resistance to the gospel or in instances of personal failure. Scripture provides reassurance for those who experience discouragement.

The experience of discouragement

Job 3:20-26 See also Numbers 21:4-5 the Israelites in the desert; Joshua 2:8-11 the Canaanites and Rahab; 1 Samuel 17:10-11 the Israelites and Goliath; 2 Kings 19:26 God's judgment on Sennacherib; Job 5:6-7; Psalm 38:1-14; Proverbs 1:26-27 Wisdom speaks to the sinner; Ecclesiastes 2:17-20 the Teacher's disillusion; Isaiah 21:2-4; Jeremiah 45:3 to Baruch; Ezekiel 21:7 God's judgment on Israel; Zechariah 10:2; 2 Corinthians 1:8-9 Paul

Prayer in discouragement

Psalm 42:5-11 See also Deuteronomy 26:6-7; 2 Samuel 22:7 David; 2 Chronicles 20:9 Jehoshaphat; Nehemiah 9:32; Psalm 31:9-12; Isaiah 38:14 Hezekiah; Jeremiah 8:18-19; Jonah 2:1-2

Endurance in discouragement

Isaiah 42:3-4 See also 2 Corinthians 6:4-10 Paul; 2 Thessalonians 1:4; Hebrews 10:32; Hebrews 12:3; Revelation 2:3 concerning the church at Ephesus

Discouragement through disobedience

Jeremiah 8:9 See also 1 Samuel 28:15-18; Job 15:24-25 Eliphaz to Job; Zephaniah 1:17

Discouragement and discipline

Hebrews 12:5-7 See also Judges 2:14-15; Isaiah 26:16

Effects of discouragement

Proverbs 17:22 See also Exodus 6:9 the Israelites in Egypt; 2 Samuel 4:1; Ezra 4:4 the rebuilding of the temple; Job 4:5; Proverbs 15:13; Proverbs 18:14

Resisting discouragement

Deuteronomy 1:21 See also Joshua 1:9; Joshua 8:1; 1 Samuel 17:32 David reassuring Saul about Goliath; 1 Chronicles 22:13 David to Solomon; 2 Chronicles 32:7 Hezekiah; Jeremiah 51:46; Luke 18:1; John 14:1; Galatians 6:9; Ephesians 3:13; 2 Timothy 4:5

God's help in discouragement

Romans 8:35-39 See also Deuteronomy 31:6,8,23; Joshua 1:9; 1 Chronicles 28:20; 2 Chronicles 20:15,17; Psalm 34:18; Isaiah 40:29-31; Isaiah 61:1; Luke 4:18; Jeremiah 30:10; John 16:33; 2 Corinthians 7:6 Paul

Warnings not to discourage others

The Israelites discouraged when on the point of entering the promised land

Ob 12 See also Deuteronomy 1:28 by the spies; Numbers 32:7 by the Gadites and Reubenites

General warnings not to discourage others

Psalm 109:16; Zechariah 10:2; Acts 15:19 James advises against discouraging the Gentiles; Colossians 3:21

The need to stand with the discouraged

Hebrews 13:3 See also Job 6:14; Jeremiah 8:21; Romans 12:15; James 1:27

See also

5805  comfort
5831  depression
5835  disappointment
8230  discipline
8414  encouragement
8418  endurance
8459  perseverance
8785  opposition
8790  oppression
8794  persecution
9614  hope, results of absence