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Apr 20, 2025 06:00am

Because of the Way

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…and the soul of the people was much DISCOURAGED BECAUSE OF THE WAY. (Numbers 21:4)

Are You Discouraged Because of the Way?

I saw a teacher today. I could see the look of exhaustion on her face. The fatigue, worry, stress in her eyes. I wanted to reach out and hug her. To tell her that I see her and that I’m praying for her and that she’s doing a good job, that she’s making a difference. But I just smiled at her and silently said a prayer for her to have a good day. I’m certain her soul is discouraged because of the way.

As I was waiting at a stop sign this morning, a car was in line behind me. The cross traffic was crazy and it was taking me a while to find an open spot to pull out. The woman in the car behind me seemed to be in a hurry and I could tell by her hand motions (ha!) that she was not happy with the delay. As, finally, I pulled away, I said a prayer that God would bless her day and give her joy in each moment. Maybe her soul is discouraged today because of the way.

I have a friend who is going through some marriage struggles. Unfaithfulness, distrust, hurt. I have no doubt that her soul is discouraged because of the way.

I have a dear friend who recently received a cancer diagnosis. It doesn’t get much scarier than that. The enemy wants her soul to be discouraged because of the way.

I know someone who fights addiction every single day. There is not a day that goes by that is not hard, that doesn’t take effort, that is not a battle of the spirit and mind. It would be so easy to be discouraged because of the way.

Is Your Way Hard Right Now?

Does it feel like you’re experiencing hard day after hard day, with no end in sight? Are you stressed, discouraged, confused?

Satan often uses criticism, problems, or difficulties to discourage believers and to try to make them give up or quit. As long as we are content to sit on the sidelines, the enemy is often content to leave us alone. However, if you’re a child of God living out His purpose, the enemy wants nothing but to kill, steal, and destroy. He will attack your joy, your relationships, your peace, your willpower, your mind. Satan will stop at nothing to discourage you and to destroy your testimony.

Jesus Knows

His journey on this earth grew increasingly difficult with each day. Satan attacked His mind, tempted Him, and tried to destroy Him. That way was hard. The hardest. But, how did Jesus battle the hard? He prayed, He asked His friends to pray, He fellowshipped, He helped others, He served, He washed feet, He had church! Jesus relied on faith in His Father. He trusted the plan, stayed true to the way, stayed on course, and believed in the goodness of God’s plan. What if He had gotten discouraged and quit?

Friend, Don’t Give Up!

Don’t let the enemy discourage you and steal your joy, just because the way is hard.

Have you prayed about the way more than you’ve complained about it? Make no mistake, God expects faith AND obedience. The verse I mentioned above is referring to the Israelites. When the Israelites were disobedient and fearful, they would be defeated by their enemy. When they were obedient and faithful, God would grant them victory.

Have you been obedient? Have you been full of faith? It’s time to rise up, look the enemy in the face and say, “Not today satan!” The Bible says that God will never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). It says that we should, “Be strong of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” (Joshua 1:9). The Word tells us that God will “keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” (Isaiah 26:3).

Encouraged Because of The Way

Let today be the last day the enemy discourages your soul because of the way. No doubt, the way is hard, but there is joy in the journey. May we focus on the positive – count our blessings – choose to reflect on the goodness around us – remember our purpose. God has a plan for us and it is not always easy and doesn’t always feel good. But it is still His good, good plan for us.

God, grant us the strength to embrace the way with grace and faith and joy.

You can do it. We can do it. Let’s go a little farther on this way. May our soul be ENCOURAGED because of the way.

Hebrews 12: 1-3, Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for hte joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For CONSIDER HIM that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.