“You seem to imagine that I have no ups and downs, but just a level and lofty stretch of
spiritual attainment with unbroken joy and equanimity. By no means! I am often perfectly
wretched and everything appears most murky.” So wrote the man called in his day (1864-
1923) “the greatest preacher in the English-speaking world,” Dr. John Henry Jowett.
Charles Haddon Spurgeon, undoubtedly the greatest preacher England ever produced, once
said in a sermon: “I am subject to depressions of spirit so fearful that I hope none of you ever
get to such extremes of wretchedness as I go to.”
Discouragement is no respecter of persons. It seems to attack the successful far more than the
unsuccessful, for the higher we climb, the farther down ‘we can fall. Even the Apostle Paul
himself was “pressed out of measure” and “despaired even of life”(2 Corinthians 1:8).
What was Paul’s secret of victory when experiencing pressures and trials? His secret was
God. When you find yourself discouraged and ready to quit, get your attention off yourself
and focus it on God. Out of his own difficult experience, Paul fellowshiped with God and
found encouragement in His promises.
Remember: “Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the
salvation of the Lord … fear not, nor be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them: for the
Lord will be with you” (2 Chronicles 20:17).
Consider: Psalm 23:1; 34:7; 103:3-4; 2 Corinthians 1:8-11.
Action assignment: Find your hymnal and turn to “It Is Well with My Soul,” the song written
by H. G. Spafford after his wife wired him that their children had perished in a shipwreck.
Sing or even whistle it. Thank God that you can trust Him in all situations of life.
WARREN W. WIERSBE
www.backtothebible.in