Discouraged? by Donna Avant

Oct 5

3 min read

Are you discouraged today? Prayers have gone unanswered. There is not even a glimmer of hope in your circumstances changing any time soon. Maybe it’s your job, your finances, your health, your marriage, a child or another relationship. It’s as though you’ve lost the courage to hope again for something or someone to change.

Personally, I’ve been there many times in my sixty-six years of life. And recently I have found myself there again due to some health issues that have dragged on for months.

The Apostle Paul was all too familiar with the feeling of discouragement. In II Timothy (Paul’s last letter) Paul is sitting in a physical prison bound by chains as he writes. He is physically, emotionally, and spiritually exhausted. He also felt alone and abandoned by those he thought were supposed to be his friends. (II Timothy 1:15) Nothing worse than someone telling you “I’ve got your back in ministry” and then they desert you when things aren’t going well. Paul was at a low point. He needed someone to encourage and refresh him so he could finish the race God had set before him.

God sent Onesiphorus. His name meant “profit bearing” and he would definitely live up to his name by bearing profit in Paul’s life. What did Onesiphorus do to bring encouragement and refreshment into Paul’s life?

He pursued Paul. II Timothy 1:17 said he “earnestly searched for me and found me.” During New Testament times, Rome was a metropolitan city with more than one prison. It wasn’t easy finding where Paul was being held prisoner. Onesiphorus and his entire family most likely came to know Christ when Paul was in Ephesus. He pursued Paul out of love for leading him to faith in Christ. When we pursue others in their discouragement, we are like the Holy Spirit, the Great Pursuer.
He was not ashamed of Paul’s chains. In ancient Rome it was frowned upon to visit a prisoner. Yet, this did not stop Onesiphorus from spending time with Paul. When we make a decision to not be ashamed of others' chains, we are being Christ-like. He is never ashamed of us no matter our circumstances or relationship issues.
He brought refreshment to Paul. The Greek word for “refreshed” means to “relieve under distress or make cool”. We cannot be certain of what Onesiphorus did to relieve Paul’s distress. Maybe he brought him cold water, food, or medication. Maybe he told Paul what God was doing in the churches that Paul had planted. Or maybe he prayed and worshiped with Paul. Whatever it was, God used Onesiphorus to refresh this great servant of God.

If you're discouraged, ask the Lord to send someone to refresh you and encourage you. When I have asked God to refresh me, He has always delivered. However, many times in my discouragement, my refreshment has come when I made the decision to pursue someone, choose to sit with someone in their difficulty, and bring them refreshment.

Several weeks ago I was physically miserable and very discouraged. My husband and I were supposed to be on video call with a precious couple who serve in a very difficult part of the world. I almost declined to be a part of the call due to my health. However, as I listened to them share about living day in and day out with bomb sirens blaring and giving birth to their child in a bomb shelter, the Holy Spirit used them to encourage me. What faith, endurance, and joy they displayed. As we prayed over them in closing, they said, “This has encouraged us so much.”

Discouraged? Pursue someone today, sit with them in their mess, and bring them refreshment. Onesiphorus' encouragement gave Paul just what he needed for the Holy Spirit to inspire Paul to write the words, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and a sound mind.” II Timothy 1:7 (NKJV)