Be Encouraged | Jentezen Franklin
Monday, October 5
No matter what you’re going through, God is there. He hasn’t finished His work in your life. This message will show you where to find hope and purpose even when you feel like you have nothing left.
Key scriptures
II Corinthians 1:3-10; Philippians 1:6; Psalm 30;5; John 14:26; I Peter 5:8-10; Mathew 5:4; I Samuel 30:6-8
Puntos clave
- Discouragement is not a sign of weakness. Discouragement happens because you’re human. If you are suffering and feeling discouraged, God will encourage you. You may feel alone and like no one cares, but you will rise, smile, and be happy again.
- You see God for who He really is when you’re in a trial. The fourth man only showed up when they went through the fire. When you’re suffering, don’t make the mistake of feeling like you’re being punished. God is with you in the trials of life. If you suffer with Christ, you will reign with him.
- God is raising up an army of encouragers. If you’ve been through a trial, you are supposed to use your testimony to encourage someone else. Your testimony is someone else’s prophecy. God’s will for you is not just to make it through your own trial, but to encourage others who go through the same thing.
Introducción
Discouragement comes to all of us, even to strong believers.
In his message “Be Encouraged,” Pastor Jentezen Franklin reminds us that experiencing discouragement, pressure, or even feeling overwhelmed does not mean we have weak faith. The apostle Paul openly admitted that he faced such intense suffering that he “despaired of life itself.” Faith does not make us immune to trials.
But Paul also discovered something important: our greatest moments of weakness can become opportunities to discover God’s strength.
God meets us in our hardest seasons as the God of all comfort and encouragement. Our hope is not found in simply trying harder, staying positive, or relying on our own strength. It is found in Jesus Christ and the presence and power of the Holy Spirit within us.
As we study this message together, we will explore:
- Discouraged But Not Defeated
LET’S START THE DISCUSSION:
- What stood out to you in this past Sunday’s message?
- Can you share a time when you felt overwhelmed or burdened to the breaking point? What helped you get through that season?
Discouraged, but not defeated
2 Corinthians 1:8-11.
"For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us, you also helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the gift granted to us through many."
Paul was speaking to the Corinthians about the troubles that came to he and Timothy. The word “trouble” here means burdened and persecuted. This trouble was the kind of trouble that created such internal pressure that Paul felt hemmed in, without options and without a way of escape. Paul felt overwhelmed beyond anything he had ever experienced. He was at total loss; expecting he might die at any moment.
This was Paul speaking. The apostle who wrote thirteen books of the New Testament! Paul who said the teaching he received was from Jesus Himself. Certainly, Paul was taught well! Paul, who was beaten, stoned, shipwrecked and imprisoned and still preached because of it. Paul, who absolutely believed in divine provision from God during trials because he’d seen it. Paul, who whole heartedly believed that trials deepen reliance on God because past trials had exactly that effect. If Paul could write what he did in 2 Corinthians 1:8, surely, we can see that sometimes being discouraged does not mean we have gone backwards, stopped believing or that we are weak. We are human. Just as Paul was human.
Much like David in the Psalms, who, with honesty often shared distress, fear and anger in the beginning of a Psalm; often ended the Psalm with praise and confidence in the only One who could affect anything he was distressed about. Paul seems to do the same here in 2 Corinthians 1:8-11. By the time we get to 2 Corinthians 1:9-10, Paul speaks what he knows to be true, despite what he sees and feels. In essence he says, “Let’s not trust ourselves but trust God; the One who raises dead things to life”.
Paul had experience with God. Paul had been delivered from trials before - God delivered Paul “back then”. God ultimately delivered Paul from this heavy affliction - God delivered Paul “now, in this instance”. And Paul fully believed that God would deliver him from the next set of dangers, as they were certain to come - God would deliver “in the future”.
We cannot not look to what we can do, but to the One who can do it. Wherever we were before, without Christ, we are most assuredly in a much better place now [no matter what we are facing], with Christ.
This is the kind of faith that will sustain us; knowing who He is and how trustworthy He is. The Lord is faithful in all His words and kind in all His actions. (Psalm 145:13). He keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations. (Deuteronomy 7:9). Everything He started, He will finish; we can be certain of that. Philippians 1:6 “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”
We have a role to play too. We would do well to encourage ourselves and not wait for an external impetus or change to our situation. David encouraged himself. 1 Samuel 30:6 KJV “And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God”. We can encourage ourselves with the sheer fact that the same God who created all that is seen and unseen knows every hair on our head and believes we are very valuable is with us; even in this trial. (Luke 12:7) Encouragement is not something we drum up from inside ourselves but rather it is the comfort that comes from knowing that our God is in control and He is for us and not against us. (Romans 8:31)
Preguntas para el debate:
- Why does it matter that even Paul admitted feeling overwhelmed? How does that change how you see your own discouragement?
- Where has God delivered you before, and how can remembering that help you trust Him now?
- What are practical ways you can encourage yourself in the Lord, like David did, before your circumstances change?
An Army of Encouragers
Pastor Jentezen’s message today from Revelation 4:7 reminds us that we can worship in boldness and aggression as a lion, in strength and steadfastness as an ox, and in renewal and flight as an eagle – yet the face of a man reminds us that worship also includes vulnerability. Sometimes we don’t feel bold, strong, or lofty like an eagle in flight. At times we feel broken, weak, and fragile, and that’s perfectly okay with God. He will meet us in our place of weakness when we come to worship Him just as we are.
God is neither ashamed nor surprised by our frail humanity. As Psalm 103:14 (KJV) reminds us, “he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.” Just like God made Adam from the very dust of the ground, he made us too, and He knows everything about us. He understands our emotional frailty, physical fragility, and limitations. He knows our weariness and our tendency to falter. He does not expect us to be men and women of steel.
Even Paul, had to come to God in pain and weakness. In II Corinthians 12 (KJV) God allowed Paul to suffer physically to keep him humble, and in that place of pain and brokenness, Paul cried out to God three times to remove the affliction. Paul was suffering, but Jesus didn’t remove the thorn in Paul’s flesh. Instead, Jesus replied, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” Where are you broken, weak, hurting today? Worship God today in your humanity, frailty, and brokenness. He won’t turn you away!
Preguntas para el debate:
- In what areas of your life do you most feel your human frailty—and how might acknowledging that open space for God’s strength to work through you?
- When you face weakness or failure, how can you remind yourself of Psalm 103:14 and respond with worship instead of shame?
- How can we, as a church or study group, create an environment where people feel safe to “come as they are” and experience transformation through grace?
Conclusión
Discouragement is part of life, but it does not have to be the end of our story. Paul reminds us that even in seasons when we feel overwhelmed, God is present, faithful, and able to sustain us. Our strength does not come from pretending we are strong; it comes from learning to depend on the God who raises the dead.
God does not simply want to bring us through our difficult seasons—He wants to use what we have experienced to bring hope and encouragement to others.
So today, receive His encouragement. Bring Him your burdens, your weariness, your disappointments, and the places where you feel like you have nothing left. Allow the Holy Spirit to remind you that you are not alone and that your hope is in Christ.
And then, pass that encouragement on.
Someone around you may be struggling silently and needs the very encouragement God has given you. Be the person who makes the phone call, sends the message, offers the prayer, speaks the word of hope, or simply shows up.
Receive God’s encouragement—and then become an encourager. Together, let’s be part of an army of encouragers, carrying the comfort, hope, and strength of Christ to a discouraged world.
Llamada a la acción:
- Remember your story. Where has God encouraged, strengthened, or carried you? Those experiences may become a source of encouragement for someone else.
- Look around you. Be intentional about noticing people who need a word of hope, peace, or encouragement.
- Stay in God’s Word. Let Scripture remind you of where your strength comes from and equip you to encourage others.
- Follow the Holy Spirit. Ask Him to lead you to people who are hurting and show you how to minister to them.
- Write it down. Journal what God is doing in your life and how you are responding to Him.
Receive God’s encouragement. Then pass it on. Be part of His army of encouragers.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for being our source of strength, comfort, and hope. When we are discouraged and overwhelmed, remind us that we are never alone and that our strength comes from You.
Help us to receive Your encouragement and allow Your Spirit to renew our hearts. Then, lead us to those who are hurting and give us the courage and compassion to encourage them with the hope we have received from You.
Make us faithful members of Your army of encouragers, bringing hope, peace, and the love of Christ wherever You send us.
In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.
Recursos
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wF_GttL2kkE
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/episode/1g35joXSCnF0wPfZBShZi0
Download Group Guide - Be Encouraged - Jentezen Franklin.docx