Victory Over Discouragement
After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he revealed himself in this way. Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We will go with you." They went out and got into the boat; but that night they caught nothing. Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, "Children, have you any fish?" They answered him, "No." He said to them, "Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, for the quantity of fish. (John 21:1-6)
Have you ever been discouraged? I mean have you been quietly down, maybe a little depressed? Have your spirits been so low that you wonder: what am I living for? I have no goals, and no hope of goals. Melancholy fills the air. Strange but the last letters of that word spell holy. Yet, there is nothing holy about the way I feel. For the bible says: “Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.” (Proverbs 13:12)
That’s how Peter and the others must have felt. They were personally called by Jesus of Nazareth to follow Him. They forsook all. They left their homes, their families, and their careers. They hoped to follow Him into a glorious future. But, their future was cut short when Jesus was crucified upon the cross. Their hopes of power, prestige and position flowed through their hands like blood flowing at the foot of the cross. All seemed lost. What a waste.
Discouraged and downhearted Peter’s mind went back to his past. Maybe he thought he could pick up the pieces and forget about how his dreams had fallen to pieces. He said: “I go fishing.’
But fate would not be kind this day or night. For they practiced their craft as fishermen, and even though they remembered all that it takes to fish, they had forgotten that fishing can be discouraging too. They had cast the net several times in the course of the night, and drew it to shore without success, and were now greatly disheartened.
Jesus appeared to his disciples several times after His resurrection. It had many purposes, but one was to keep them from being discouraged. It was to enlighten and to inspire, and to inform them of their destiny.
Jesus pointed at their failure by asking the questions that they did not want to answer. “Children, have you and fish?” they had to answer Him, “No.” Jesus told them to take a different approach. He said: "Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, for the quantity of fish. (John 21:6)
Three points to help us have victory over Discouragement:
I. Listen (to the commands of Christ) Nevertheless, at thy word I will… Keep on keeping on. (I Corinthians 15:58) (It is not that He did not hear our cries, He knows it is hard for us to see through tears).
B. Be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.
C. Sometimes I listen to my heart. It speaks from discouragement. I need to listen to Jesus, He speaks from destiny. When your heart fills your head with the noise of discouragement… “Cast your cares upon the Lord, for He cares for you.” (I Peter 5:7)
I want to complain… but He tells me to “stand still, and see the glory of the Lord.”
II. Labor (under the direction of Christ) (Matthew 25:34-46)
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. (Matthew 25:40)
A. Nursing home visit.
B. When did we see you naked and cloth you. Hungry and we fed you.
C. When you done it to these the least of thy brethren you have done it to me.
To hear His word is to obey His commands. Disobedience tells us that we are listening to another’s voice, and we are trusting in another way. But Jesus said: “I am the way, the truth and the Life.”
III. Love (the outcome He gives)
A. Contentment – no matter what state you find yourself in be content.
B. Containment – Keep interest in check. Walk and talk with Jesus.
C. Control - Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
13 I can do all things through Christ which strengthened me. (Philippians 4:11-13)
CONCLUSION:
Learn (that God is in control)
A. So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, for the quantity of fish. (John 21:1-6)
B. Trust and obey. For there is no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
C. He who calms the seas can calm your fears. He can speak peace to your soul if you give Him complete control.
| 
