I suppose it's easy to become discouraged. Things don't always go the way we want, and we find ourselves wanting to quit. It's then that we have to keep our hearts and minds focussed on the plans God has for us, and know that He will accomplish in us what He desires.
People assume that the life of a professional football player is easy. It looks so glamorous. The rewards are great. But not everyone understands that being a professional football player, like anything else, is not so much a matter of talent as it is a willingness to overcome discouragement along the way, and to stay focussed on the goal.
I had two goals when I was in college. I wanted to graduate with my degree, and I wanted to play professional football. Then I blew out my knee. A lot of people wrote me off. Oh, they were nice, but they said things like, "Too bad you'll never be the football player you once were." Or, "You must be feeling really low."
There will always be people who will try to keep you from being faithful to the plans God has for you. It's not that they're mean. They just don't understand what it means to be a believer, and to live your life faithful to God. They don't understand that setbacks along the way don't have to be discouraging, but can actually make us stronger. And they don't understand that goals that look impossible can be attained if only we are faithful.
It's like Sanballat, who wanted to discourage Nehemiah. Sanballat thought that rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem was ridiculous, that it couldn't be done, and he made fun of Nehemiah. But Nehemiah would not be discouraged. He had prayed and prayed and believed that God wanted him to rebuild the wall, so nothing was going to stop him.
And Nehemiah did rebuild the wall around Jerusalem. Despite the fact it looked like an impossible task, and despite all the discouragement he faced, he accomplished what God wanted him to do.
And I accomplished my goals. I got my degree, and I was drafted in the 2nd round by the Rams. And I accomplished my goals not because I worked so hard, but because I continued doing the things I knew God wanted me to. I prayed every day. I read the Bible. I had faith that, despite the problems, despite the discouragement, despite the people who didn't think I could do it, God had a plan for me. And nothing was going to stop me.
The Bible says, "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." (Ps. 37:4). That's what I did. I stayed focused on the Lord. I was willing to give up what I wanted, and bow to the will of the Lord .
That's the way Jesus was. God had a plan for Jesus. He was to be the Savior of the world. And the night before He died, Jesus said to His Father, "I give up what I want, and I will do what You want." And the Father accomplished His plan through Jesus, through His death on the cross.
God has plans for us. And He will accomplish those plans in us, not because we try hard to do what is right, but because we stay focused on Him, and bow to His will, and trust His love for us.
And when I am tempted to quit, when I am discouraged and just don't want to do it anymore, I remember that I do not play football for myself or others, but for God, and He never quit on me. And I delight myself in Him.
Oh, I have more goals now. I want to strengthen my prayer life and my Bible study. I want to surround myself with other believers. I want to be the kind of husband and father God would have me be. And, I want to be the head of the Sunday School at my church. And I know I will accomplish those things because they are want God wants for me, and I will bow to Him.
Of course, the real reason we don't ever have to be discouraged is that God is with us all the time. We are never out of His care. And He loves us, and will love us forever. Like it says in Joshua 1:9, "Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified or discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."
That's the way I have lived my life.