IF YOU CARRY A VISION BUT ARE DISCOURAGED

In our first year in marriage and my third year in ministry, I woke up on a Sunday morning and focused on the morning routine just before service. After I had fully dressed, I suddenly became discouraged. It was so bad that I told Irewamiri that I was not going to church that morning. 

I could not place a finger on what the matter was. I just knew that my heart was overwhelmed. My body was so heavy that my heart could not carry it. 

(Please, pray for your pastors. They are humans also. Some do not even feel like going to church today. For that pastor: In the name of Jesus, that cloud of discouragement is dispelled now. You are strengthened with might in your inner man).

I pushed and I began to pour out hymns. As I sang one after the other, I began to get strengthened until I rose and went to church. I got to church late but no one would have ever guessed the internal battle that I just won. I gave my all. 

There was a day when David and his men returned to their city. They expected to see excited wives and children screaming welcome. When they saw the smoke of Ziklag from afar, they moved as fast as they could but they returned to a desolate and empty city. While they were away, the enemy struck. Their family was stolen. Their possessions were gone. 

Guess what great soldiers and mighty men did- they began to cry until there was no strength to cry. Strange thoughts began to plague their minds. David’s men spoke of stoning him. 

When an enemy wounds you, it can be painful. But when loyal friends and family members speak words that drain you, the wound can be unbearable. 

The last thing the enemy wants to steal is your strength so that you will never be able to come to retrieve what he has stolen from you. What did David do? 

Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. *But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.*

I Samuel 30:6 NKJV

We do not know what David did in particular but I propose that he must have sung in Psalms also (maybe the enemy left his harp behind because they thought it was not a threat or as a form of mockery). As he took one song and speak in Psalms, God responded to his inquiry. 

First, he recovered his strength.

Second, he recovered the heart of his men.

He got back the hands of his men of war. 

He got back the will to pursue it. 

His men got back the desire to be kind to others. 

They got back their wives, children, and all they lost. 

I know you are feeling down but must you stay down? You may be down but you are not out.  Strengthen your heart. 

You are a man of vision.

You are on a mission. 

Do not wait for external encouragement.

Every man on a mission must have an I.G.S. 

Is your Internal Encouragement System working?  Do not let it break down. Service it!

You will get there!

temilOluwa Ola, Eruwa.