I want to expose one of the devil’s most powerful tactics—discouragement. He sees Christians struggling with life-threatening illnesses, severe family problems, financial strains, and just trying to keep hopeful in the midst of a world that seems to be hanging by a thread. We know that the devil is the author of lies, and always has an “appropriate” lie to send our way when we are going through tough times. He says things like, “This problem will never be resolved,” “The medical procedure will not work,” “Your prayers and efforts aren’t accomplishing anything,” “Life is just too tough; the best thing to do is give up.” “If God really cared about you he would rescue from your problems.” Our undiscerning minds that are open to almost any thought that floats our way, take in these kinds of lies without questioning. And so we fall for the devil’s tricks and get discouraged.
In comes St. Paul. He gives us a double-dose of encouragement today (1 Thessalonians 5:1-11). Like any group of faithful Christians this group struggled to remain faithful and enthusiastic during tough times.
First Paul reassured them that there is an end in sight.
“For you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief at night. When people are saying ‘Peace and security,’ then sudden disaster comes upon them…and they will not escape.”
No matter what things look like on the outside, a surprise is soon coming. The Lord will not broadcast his coming; rather he will come unexpectedly like a “thief in the night.”
“But you brothers and sisters, are not in darkness, for that day to overtake you like a thief. For all of you are children of the light and children of the day…Therefore, let us not sleep as the rest do, but let us stay alert and sober. For God does not destine us for wrath, but to gain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
We don’t let the state of the world get us down as those who do not have the “eyes of the Holy Spirit.” We see the bigger picture. With Jesus living inside us we have a powerful light in us that dispels the darkness. How important it is, then, that we do not become dull-minded, and groggy like those who are overcome by the trials of life—who choose to go to sleep and forget it all. With the help of God’s Word and the encouragement of one another, we stay wide awake and alert because whatever our situation, it “too shall pass” and Jesus will see us through.
Paul closes his exhortation by giving each of us a homework assignment.
“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, as indeed you do.”
Do we realize God has given each of us a bundle of power that is able to inject courage into other people? And, as we know, when we give someone else a word of encouragement, our own supply increases. The Body of Christ is designed so that each part has the power to build up every other part. A headache, for example, can be eased by our fingers massaging our heads.
When we allow ourselves to be vessels of encouragement, we drown out the empty lies that Satan uses to bring discouragement to Christians. When we apply the life-giving truth of God’s Word to one another’s minds and hearts, we leave no room for the destructive lies of the devil to find a home.
My morning has just begun and I’ve already “run into” four different people who needed a word of encouragement. Some had been wallowing in false beliefs that came from the ruler of darkness, and were glad to be exposed to the light of the truth—thus removing the cloud of darkness that had been covering them.
Write down the homework assignment that St. Paul gave us, and do not let the day go by without doing it!
“Wait for the Lord with courage; be stouthearted, and wait for the Lord” (Ps 27:14).
