Why Do Christians Become Discouraged?
1) Direct Answer
Christians become discouraged when they take their eyes off the Lord’s promises, listen to the accuser, walk by sight instead of faith, grow weary under trial, or misunderstand God’s loving chastening. Discouragement is a real battle, but it is not the believer’s portion—God provides strength, comfort, and renewal.
2) Scriptural Explanation
- Looking at circumstances instead of the Word: Peter sank when he saw the wind, but was safe while looking at Jesus (Matthew 14:29-31).
- Isolation and fear: Elijah ran, sat under a juniper tree, and asked to die; God fed him, spoke gently, and sent him back with a word (1 Kings 19:1-18).
- Delay and dashed expectations: “We trusted…” said the Emmaus disciples, sad and confused, until the Scriptures were opened and Christ was made known (Luke 24:17-32).
- Weariness under chastening: We “be wearied and faint” unless we consider Him who endured; God’s chastening yields fruit (Hebrews 12:3-11).
- Hope deferred: “Hope deferred maketh the heart sick” (Proverbs 13:12).
- Satan’s accusations and attacks: The adversary seeks to devour; he is the accuser of the brethren (1 Peter 5:8-9; Revelation 12:10).
- Honest testimony of saints: “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? hope thou in God” (Psalm 42:5). “We are troubled… yet not distressed… cast down, but not destroyed” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9).
3) Simple Clarifying Logic
- Discouragement rises when sight takes the throne and the promise is pushed aside. Faith looks away to Jesus (Hebrews 12:2).
- If God’s people never faced discouragement, why would He say, “Be not weary in well doing” (Galatians 6:9), “Fear not… be strong” (Joshua 1:9), and give us “the comfort of the Scriptures” (Romans 15:4)?
- The remedy is not to deny the storm, but to lift higher than it:
- Return to the Word: “This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me” (Psalm 119:50).
- Pray and cast away your cares: “Be careful for nothing… the peace of God shall keep your hearts” (Philippians 4:6-7); “Casting all your care upon him” (1 Peter 5:7).
- Resist the devil and take the shield of faith (James 4:7; Ephesians 6:16).
- Wait on the Lord for renewed strength (Isaiah 40:28-31).
- Keep fellowship and encouragement (Hebrews 10:24-25).
- Rejoice and give thanks—“the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).
- Remember past deliverances (Psalm 77:11-12).
Short reinforcing statement
You see, discouragement is a sign of battle, not of abandonment. Lift your eyes to Christ, speak what God has spoken, and keep walking. “We faint not… while we look not at the things which are seen…but at the things which are not seen” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18).
Ask a Follow-up Question
What did the Laodicean Church Age (our age) Angel (- messenger) Say about this?
Ranked passages from the local William Branham sermon and Church Age Book database. Relevance is relative, not a statement of doctrinal certainty.
The Lamb's book of life
56-0603 §39
Notice, how many in here this morning are Christians? Would you raise your hands? Just raise your hands up, "I'm Christian." God be praised that you are a Christian. How did you become Christians. Because you said, "I want to become a Christian?" because that you sought God with tears? Because God, by grace, called you. That's right. Not because you sought Him; because He sought you. Now, if you notice, on the Baptist side, or the Presbyterian---the Arminian belief---they all go to seed. They say, "Well if God call...
Fellowship by redemption
55-0403 §19
You know, now, this is kind of a little bit hard. But you are the only Bible that many people will ever read, you Christians. Your life is the only Bible that men, a lot of men and women, will ever read, just the way you act and do. So Christians are supposed to be a living example of what Christ is. And if Christ is in the human heart, then he will certainly live His own life, for Christ is in you. And the Spirit of Christ be in you, then you become a new creature. Now, I love to think that Christians everywhere,...
Convinced then concerned
62-0118 §51
...e trying to meet them on their grounds. Let them come over on our grounds, see. We don't want to try to get what they got. We got something that they can't have unless they become one of us. That's right. Be a vessel of the Lord. Have Christ. Christ said, "If I be lifted up I'll draw all men to me." But see, when the church don't do that... They lifted up... you ought to lift Him up, as the song said, by living as Christians ought to do. But, instead of that, we start right off... The very things we do, and things,...
Perfect strength by perfect weakness
61-1119 §43
...is great fellow, Paul, he was a prince amongst the preachers. He was respected by every denomination. That man could have went to a city and had a meeting anywhere. Because why? He had credentials. Why, he was so great, and so determined to smash out all the people that was weak, until he got power from the high priest, the highest authority, to bind every one of them Christians. Political power from his church, to bind all of them. Oh, he was strong! He could bind the Christians and throw them into jail because th...
Sir, we would see Jesus
62-0724 §20
...ll, and that's the church of our Lord Jesus Christ. And we do not join it. By one Spirit we are all baptized into one body, which is the church of Christ. And that's how we become Christians. And we love Him, and I know the rest of them does. Now, we do have organizations, denominations. Them's all right. That's fine, but ... as long as you don't draw a line, and say, "We are it; and you're not," see. We are all it, if we're baptized into the body. And I've said, "I've been with the Branham family, now, for over fi...