Luke 7:18-35: Discouragement.

Spurgeon, the great Victorian preacher, used to speak about ‘the preacher’s’ fainting fits’. Many ministers may identify with this. That sermon you put so much time and effort and prayer into just seemed to fall flat. You noticed the people who looked sullen, bored, disinterested, sleepy. You expected to feel energised and empowered in the pulpit and you didn’t. It didn’t go how you expected. So Sunday night/Monday morning can become a time of dangerous introspection. You flirt with the thought that you are not up to it, and maybe you ought to resign for the good of the church. You are not sure how much longer you can carry on doing this. Becoming a postman seems an attractive proposition.

Many things can discourage leaders. One of the factors appears in this passage. It’s when people are awkward, and whatever you do they won’t be happy. What do you do with that? It can make you want to tear your hair out. They will always have a gripe and a grouse about something. You just can’t win.

There is something murky and mysterious about discouragement. It can descend like a fog and obscure your wisest perceptions. It even came to John the Baptist, who had given his life to witness to Christ. He was the greatest figure in the Old Covenant era, yet he too got ‘down in the dumps’.There is normally something of the irrational about bouts of discouragement, as we see in John. He knew that Jesus had raised the widow of Nain’s son, but he still had his doubts about the Lord. I don’t think he really thought they should be looking for another, but he found himself in prison, and in a dark place, and he needed reassurance.

The answer for John in his depression is just the one you and I need too. It is to get a fresh vision of Jesus: His Person and work. It is to see who He is and what He does. The report taken back to John must have reminded him of a number of Old Testament prophecies and settled his quivering heart.

So, ‘Turn your eyes upon Jesus…’

Prayer: Lord God please lift the drooping spirits of any discouraged Christian leaders today. Enable them to see you more clearly. Thank you that Jesus, for the joy that was set before Him, endured. Help us all to continually consider Him (Hebrews 12:1,2).