Hayden planetarium in New York City ran an advertisement in New York newspapers inviting those who would like to make the first journey to another planet to submit an application. Within a matter of days, over 18,000 people applied. These applications were then given to a panel of psychologists, who upon reviewing them concluded that the vast majority of those who had applied wanted to start a new life on another planet because they were so discouraged by life on this one.

Discouragement is something that we all live with from time to time. It is easy for us to allow the pressures and burdens of life to overwhelm us and cause us to despair. Discouragement is a killer! Discouragement has caused many people to drop out of the church. It has caused them to quit on God. It has caused many preachers to give up the fight and lay down their Bibles. Listen to what John Calvin said about his life, "In addition to the immense troubles by which I am so sorely consumed, there is almost no day on which some new pain or anxiety does not come." Spurgeon had this to say about his own battles with discouragement, "Discouragement … creeps over my heart and makes me go with heaviness to my work.… It is dreadfully weakening." It is that way with many of God's precious servants! Some are discouraged in your walk with the Lord. You are thinking about throwing in the towel. You are considering dropping out on the Lord. But, before you do, I would like to remind you that God did not save you so that you could live your life in a state of discouragement. 2 Timothy 1:7 says, "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." That verse would seem to indicate that you and I do not have to live with discouragement as our constant companion. I think the Bible teaches us that it is possible to win the battle over discouragement.

Maybe you are reading this and you have had a discouraging week. or month. What are your plans to overcome discouragement? Hebrews 12:1-3 give us a three-fold plan for overcoming discouragement:

1Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

First, commit to a life of faithful running. This will require preparation on our parts. Somneone once said, if we fail to plan we will plan to fail. Consistency is important in running any race, but especially the Christian race. If you are discouraged today, be encouraged that today does not last forever and that better days are coming. Second, commit to a life of focused running. As a child of God, your focus should be on the never changing Jesus Christ, not on the things of the earth that are constantly changing. Jesus has finished the race for us, therefore He is the perfect object of our focus. When you get discouraged, think of all that Jesus overcame in his race of life:

1. He was born to an unwed mother - Matthew 1:18-19
2. He was born in a stable - Luke. 2:7
3. Born to poor parents - Luke 2:24
4. His life was threatened as a baby - Matthew 2:13ff
5. His birth was the cause of terrible suffering - Matthew 2:16ff
6. He was moved as a baby - Matthew. 2:13ff
7. He was raised in a despicable town - Nazareth - Luke 2:39
8. His father died when He was young - Matthew 13:53-58
9. He had to support His family - Matthew 13:55-58
10. He had no home and no place to lay His head - Matthew. 8:20; Luke 9:58
11. He was hated and opposed by others - Mark 14:1-2
12. He was charged with insanity - Mark 3:21
13. He was charged with demon possession - Mark 3:22
14. He opposed by His family - Mark 3:21-22
15. He was rejected, hated and opposed by the audiences who came to hear Him speak - Matthew 13:53-58; Luke 4:28-29.
16. He was betrayed by a close friend - Mark 14:10-11; 18
17. He was left alone, rejected and forsaken by all of His friends - Mark 14:50.
18. He was tried before the high court of the land and tried with treason - John 18:33.
19. He was executed as a common criminal by means of crucifixion - John 19:16ff.

Finally, the next thing that Hebrews 12:1-3 teaches us is to commit to a life of fulfilled running. Remember where the Lord has brought you from, remember that he is still keeping you, and remember that we find rest in him.