When You Feel Like Giving Up!

It's always easier to start something than to finish it.  

It's easier to get into something than it is to get out. 

It's easier to fill your schedule than it is to fulfill your schedule.  

It's easier to get into debt than it is to get out of debt.  

It's easier to make a commitment than to keep a commitment. 

Life becomes like a marathon as the race goes on and on.  

More and more people drop out.  

Life isn't easy. 

It's part of the character building process of God making us like Jesus. 

God doesn't make it easy.  

One of our enemies is discouragement. 

It is reoccurring and effects us all.  

Nehemiah 4:6-12 (NIRV)

6 So we rebuilt the wall. 

We repaired it until all of it was half as high as we wanted it to be.

The people worked with all their heart.

7 But Sanballat and Tobiah heard that Jerusalem’s walls continued to be repaired. 

The Arabs, the Ammonites and the people of Ashdod heard about it too. 

They heard that the gaps in the wall were being filled in. 

So they were very angry. 

8 All of them made evil plans to come and fight against Jerusalem. 

They wanted to stir up trouble against it. 

9 But we prayed to our God. 

We put guards on duty day and night to watch out for danger.

10 During that time, the people in Judah spoke up. 

They said, “The workers are getting weaker and weaker all the time. 

Broken stones are piled up everywhere. 

They are in our way.

So we can’t rebuild the wall.”

11 And our enemies said, “We will be right there among them. 

We’ll kill them. 

We’ll put an end to their work. 

We’ll do it before they even know it or see us.”

12 Then the Jews who lived near our enemies came to us. 

They told us ten times, “No matter where you are, they’ll attack us.”

Discouragement normally sets in at the midway point. 

We get discouraged when...

1. When something takes longer than expected.  

That cause fatigue. 

Nehemiah 4:10 A. They said, “The workers are getting weaker and weaker all the time. 

Most Americans are sleep deprived.  

That's why God created the Sabbath.  

When you're tired, you are more venerable to attacks from other people. 

Deuteronomy 25:18(NIRV)

You were tired and worn out. 

They met up with you on your journey. 

They attacked everyone who was lagging behind. 

They didn’t have any respect for God.  

When you are tired, you are being set up for an attack.

2. When something is more complicated than it should be, it causes frustration. 

Anytime you try to build anything. 

You're going to have trash.

Nehemiah 4:10 B. Broken stones are piled up everywhere.  

A. Trash is a part of life.  

Stuff you haven't dealt with.

B. You have to clean out the trash periodically (with sin it is confession and repentance).

C. If you don't, trash will eventually take over. 

Trash multiplies when you aren't watching.

D. You don't always know what's the trash in your life, but other people do. 

(Activities, relationships, attitudes, habit, misconceptions). 

What's the trash in your life?  

It's the stuff that keeps tripping you up. 
  

Psalm 25:16 (NIRV)

16 Turn to me and help me.
    I am lonely and hurting.

3. When I start to doubt my own ability, this causes a sense of failure.

Nehemiah 4:10c So we can’t rebuild the wall.”

How do you handle failure? 

How to you react when your plans collapse? 

How do your react when its taking longer than you thought, its more complicated than you thought, and you wonder if you have the ability to do this?

Do you give in to pity?  

Do you complain?  

Do you blame other people?  

If at first you don't succeed, that proves that you are normal.  

Successful people see failure as a temporary setback.  

This message is on learning the spiritual quality of resilience. 

There is no comeback without a setback? 
  

4. When the opposition grows stronger, this causes fear?

A. Criticism

B. Ridicule 

C. Threats  

Nehemiah 4: 11 And our enemies said, “We will be right there among them.

We’ll kill them. We’ll put an end to their work. 

We’ll do it before they even know it or see us.”  

Those who were listening to their enemies got discouraged first.

Nehemiah 4:12 Then the Jews who lived near our enemies came to us. 

They told us ten times, “No matter where you are, they’ll attack us.”

If you keep hanging out with negative people and viewing negative media, it will fill you with fear.  

All the news is bad now-a-days.  

What secret fear is causing you to be discouraged?  

Perfection,pressure,failure?

Do you have an intense desire to run?

What is God's cure when you feel like giving up? 

A. Reorganize whatever is not working.

You might be doing the right thing in the wrong way.

Nehemiah 4:13 (NIRV)

13 So I stationed some people behind the lowest parts of the wall. 

That’s where our enemies could easily attack us. 

I stationed the people family by family. 

They had their swords, spears and bows with them.

Nehemiah's new strategy was half will work and half will watch. 

The natural temptation is to give up on your dreams.  

Reorganize your budget, your diet, your schedule. 

You may need to clean out the time wasters and the clutter.  

What does your support group looks like?  

Join a Christian small group.  

Don't give up on your dream, but look at it from another point of view.

B. Refocus from yourself to your God. 

Nehemiah 4:14A (NIRV)

14 I looked things over. 

Then I stood up and spoke to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people. 

I said, “Don’t be afraid of your enemies. Remember the Lord. 

He is great and powerful. 

Have you been working for God, but you've forgotten God?  

Have you forgotten that God's been working on you and in you?

What should you remember when you are discouraged? 

a. God's goodness to you in the past. 

b. God's closeness to you in the present.

c. God's power for you in the future.

Get your mind off your discouraging circumstances and onto your God. 

Jonah 2:7 (TLB)

“When I had lost all hope, I turned my thoughts once more to the Lord. 

And my earnest prayer went to you in your holy Temple. 

Psalm 119:25 (TLB)

I am completely discouraged—I lie in the dust. 

Revive me by your Word.

Get in the word of God instead of social media. 

C. Resist the discouragement.  

Nehemiah 4:14 B (TLB)

14 “Don’t be afraid! 

Remember the Lord who is great and glorious; fight for your friends, your families, and your homes!”

Distraction and discouragement are two of Satan's weapons. 

James 4:7 Resist the devil and he will flee from you.  

Discouragement is a choice. 

You are choosing to listen to discouraging thoughts. 

Great people refused to be discouraged. Choose to be determined.  

Never give up if God is in it. 

What's unfinished in your life?  

Is it a relationship?  

Do you have unfinished business with God?  

What is it that God wants you to do, but you keep putting it off? 

Jeremiah 8:20  (TLB)

20 “The harvest is finished; the summer is over, and we are not saved.”    

  

Do you need to be saved? 

Baptized?  

Join a small group? 

Some of you are just barely holding on.  

Don't give up.  

Look up!  

The solution might be just around the corner. 

Tough times never stay, but tough people do.

Some of you are scared. 

Help us to do what Nehemiah did. 

Lord, today I want to refocus on you, and your goodness to me in the past.  

I need strength for the future.  

Help me to discard the clutter.  

Lord, give me the power to resist the discouragement.  

Discouragement is a choice and I choose to trust in you. 

Jesus please come into my life and manage my life. 

Please forgive me for my sins. 

I am turning from them.  

I surrender to you.

Romans 10:9-10 (TLB)

9 For if you tell others with your own mouth that Jesus Christ is your Lord and believe in your own heart that God has raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 

10 For it is by believing in his heart that a man becomes right with God; and with his mouth he tells others of his faith, confirming his salvation.

Notes from Rick Warren, Saddleback Church.