Biblical Examples of Discouragement and Signs

In this post, I will review biblical examples of discouragement and pinpoint some signs to watch out for.

The essence of reviewing biblical examples of discouragement is two-fold.

Firstly, it is to provide reassurance that you are not alone in your struggles. For there is no temptation that has befallen us but such as is common to man. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

Secondly, being able to identify the signs of discouragement will help you recognize it either in yourself or others. That way, you can seek help or be your brother’s keeper, and support them in whatever way you can.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links and we may earn compensation when you click on the links at no additional cost to you.

This post is a continuation of the post titled Discouraged? He Gives Strength to The Weary. And in that post, I discussed some of the factors that cause discouragement; deferred hope and feelings of despair.

Deferred hope makes the heart sick … (Proverbs 13:12).

While feelings of despair arise from having a sense of hopelessness.

In the case of deferred hope, there is still an element of hope. Whereas, in the latter i.e. feelings of despair, all hope is lost.

Based on the biblical examples, there are some signs of discouragement that I identified and I will discuss them shortly.

Biblical examples of discouragement and the signs to watch out for will give you reassurance that you are not alone in your struggles #weariness #discouragement #bloggerstribe #teacupclub Click To Tweet

What Does the Bible Say About Discouragement?

The bible is filled with so many words of encouragement for those who are experiencing discouragement. For example, God encouraged Joshua in Joshua 1:9 to be strong and courageous because He will be with Him.

Joshua 1:9

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9 (NIV)

Discouragement in the Bible

In Psalms 42 verse 11, the psalmist was conflicted and asked himself a pertinent question.

Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God. Psalms 42:11 (ESV)

From the above Bible verse, we see that David’s soul was discouraged and weary. But he didn’t understand why. Hence the question.

It’s like he was thinking, I am discouraged but it ought not to be, I am confused, what is going on?

​Be Still and Know: 365 Days of Hope and Encouragement for Women

But we can infer that it was due to feelings of hopelessness because, in the end, he mentioned “hope in God”.

His question is not the question of someone who thought it was normal for him to be discouraged.

For him to have questioned his feelings, he was probably trying to find a resolution for his inner turmoil.

So, he encouraged himself with these words;

“Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.” Psalms 42:11 (ESV)

If there is one thing we should emulate from David, it’s his ability to encourage himself.

David never failed to encourage himself in the Lord whenever he was discouraged. And we all need to learn how to do that daily.

A Bible verse that speaks to that is 1 Samuel 30:6.

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. (NKJV)

Related Post: Pressed but not Crushed: A Story of Hope Do you feel hard-pressed on all sides? Then, this post is for you.

Signs of Discouragement and Associated Biblical Examples

Having Constant Thoughts of Giving Up

Having constant thoughts of giving up is a sign of discouragement and indicates that the soul is weary. It means hopelessness is setting in. The good news is you’re not the only person feeling or have felt that way.

Pin For Later

Biblical Examples of Discouragement – Israelites

The first biblical example of discouragement I will discuss is the Israelites. God’s own people the Israelites were discouraged as they journeyed through the wilderness and had constant thoughts of giving up and repeatedly berated Moses. They asked him why he brought them from Egypt to die in the wilderness.

10 When Pharaoh drew near, the people of Israel lifted up their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they feared greatly. And the people of Israel cried out to the Lord. 11 They said to Moses, “Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt? 12 Is not this what we said to you in Egypt: ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.” Exodus 14:10 – 12 (ESV)

Their feelings of hopelessness and confusion were palpable as they cried out.

They had neither fight nor faith left, they were sorely discouraged. To them, giving up was the next best thing to do.

Grace for the Afflicted: A Clinical and Biblical Perspective on Mental Illness

Having Suicidal Thoughts

Having suicidal thoughts can sometimes be a sign of discouragement.

Please note that this post does not imply that discouragement is the only cause of suicidal thoughts. There are other physiological causes that can trigger such thoughts. You can find more resources about this here.

If you are feeling suicidal, be aware that the root cause could be either physiological or spiritual. If it’s physiological, you need to consult a doctor and if spiritual, you need prayers.

When questions like why am I here, why am I alive cross your mind along with suicidal thoughts. 
They could be an indication of discouragement.

Biblical Example of Discouragement – Jonah

The second biblical example of discouragement I will discuss is Jonah. Jonah had suicidal thoughts (Jonah 4:3). He was angry at what he had passed through that he asked God to take his life.

Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.” Jonah 4:3 (ESV)

In case you’re wondering what he passed through, he was swallowed up by a great fish and he fell into despair.

Jonah was very descriptive with how he felt, he termed it distress and he painted a vivid picture of him being hurled into the depths of the sea.

In my distress, I called to the Lord, and he answered me. From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help, and you listened to my cry. 3 You hurled me into the depths, into the very heart of the seas, and the currents swirled about me; all your waves and breakers swept over me. Jonah 2:2 – 3 (NIV)

Did you notice what he did even when he was in distress and deep in the realm of the dead?

He called to God for help and God answered. Will you call on God for help today? I encourage you to do so. Cry out to Him as Jonah did! As you take that step of faith and call on God for help, may He answer you in Jesus name.

What to Do When You Don’t Know What to Do: Discouragement and Depression

Seeking Alternate Ungodly Means

Seeking alternate ungodly means to an end can also be a sign of discouragement.

Biblical Example of Discouragement – Sarah

Another example of someone that suffered discouragement in the bible was Sarah and she tried to help her situation by seeking an alternate ungodly means. Sarah sought an alternate ungodly means to fulfill her desire of having children even though God had promised to give her a son.

​1 Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian slave named Hagar; 2 so she said to Abram, “The Lord has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my slave; perhaps I can build a family through her.” Abram agreed to what Sarai said. Genesis 16:1 – 2 (NIV)

The second biblical example of discouragement and the sign of seeking alternate ungodly means is in 2 Kings.

Two women conspired to eat their own children and turned themselves to cannibals due to the excessive famine in the land.

28 Then he asked her, “What’s the matter?” She answered, “This woman said to me, ‘Give up your son so we may eat him today, and tomorrow we’ll eat my son.’ 29 So we cooked my son and ate him. The next day I said to her, ‘Give up your son so we may eat him,’ but she had hidden him.” 2Ki 6:28 –  29 (NIV)

Related Post: Top Bible Verses to Overcome Discouragement

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. #discouragement… Click To Tweet

When All You Do is Cry In the Corner of Your Room

Are you crying in secret? I pray for anyone with secret tears that the Lord Almighty will wipe your tears. It is my prayer that the omniscient God will heal your ache in Jesus name.

Constant crying and sorrow of heart can also be a sign of discouragement.

Biblical Example of Discouragement – David

David is another biblical example of someone who was discouraged.

He said;

I am worn out from my groaning. All night long I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears. Psalms 6:6 (NIV)

Is this your story?

Know that my heart goes out to you and so does God’s. I pray that the same God who gave David rest roundabout will give you respite from all your troubles in Jesus name.

Pin For Later

 

When Prayer Becomes a Burden and You Can’t Concentrate on Relating with God

Reduction in prayer time and fellowship with God under normal circumstances could be a sign of discouragement. Prophet Isaiah captured this well when he wrote;

“But you have not called upon Me, O Jacob; And you have been weary of Me, O Israel. Isaiah 43:22 (NKJV)

God longs for fellowship with us and that is the primary reason for our existence.

What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit[a] him? Psalms 8:4 (NKJV)

He wouldn’t visit us if He didn’t long for fellowship with us. Remember, that was how God visited Adam before the fall.

8 And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. Genesis 3:8 (NKJV)

Inability to pray or withdrawing from God's presence could also be a sign of backsliding.

Related Post: Spiritual Emptiness – A Sign of Backsliding

When You Start Withdrawing From God’s Presence and His People

Withdrawing from God’s presence and from fellowshipping with other believers can also be a sign of discouragement. You are no longer glad when they say it’s time to go into the house of the Lord. Psalms 122:1

All these are signs of discouragement bordering on hopelessness and it calls for help.

Conclusion

In this post, we have looked at several examples of discouragement in the bible. Hopefully, this has helped to reassure you that you are not alone in your struggles.

Others have experienced similar troubles and they didn’t give up. So, you don’t have to give up.

God will wipe your tears and bring an end to your waiting in due time. Amen.