This week's sermon titled "Dealing with Discouragement", looking at the well-known bible character during this Christmas season, Joseph, Jesus's earthly father. Pastor Obed reminded us of ways how we can rise above discouragement in life.

Discouragement comes most often when we do right things but experience poor results.  It makes us want to quit, saying things we shouldn't say, and sometimes shaking our fists at God. The spirit of discouragement find a way to have influence in our lives and taking that opportunities and vulnerabilities in us. But we should not tolerated or wallowed in it, we must fight it. Sometimes in our discouragement we look inward - to our problems, our frustrations, and our situation - when we need to look upward to a God who has not abandoned us. He is with us. He accompanies us. He is a present-tense God.

Jesus does not want us to be discouraged. In fact, he commands us not to be. Remember what Jesus says to his disciples just before what probably was the most discouraging experience of their lives — his brutal death: “Let not your hearts be troubled” (John 14:1). As a Christian, we must get encouragement, a faith-fueled courage and we can find it in God's word and by believing in Him. So don’t allow a spirit of discouragement to just sit on you. Don’t let your heart be ruled by what you see. Let it be ruled by what Jesus promises you. Fixing your eyes and thoughts on Him and He fill you with His courage.