Overcoming Discouragement in a Broken World
Overcoming discouragement begins by remembering that Jesus told his followers trouble would come, but he also promised victory over the world. Mark A. Taylor reflects on the brokenness found in churches, ministries, workplaces, and relationships—and points readers toward eternal hope.
- Brokenness in organizations and relationships should not surprise followers of Jesus.
- Jesus warned that trouble would come, but he also promised victory over the world.
- Christians can take heart because this life is only an overture to eternity with God.
By Mark A. Taylor
The Reality of Brokenness
I’ve thought a lot about the churches I know, the parachurch ministries I’ve seen, and the work situations I’ve experienced. My conclusion: There’s a problem with all of them. To one degree or another, they’re all broken. In fact, some are shattered messes.
Every senior minister or elder or boss or chief executive has a blind spot. And some at the top are plagued by self-interest, paranoia, or a true incompetence they’re frantic to hide.
Every organization chart, while conceived to solve problems, thereby creates new difficulties for those who must function within it, bound by its barriers.
Every office group, project team, or church staff contains folks troubled by their spouses, worried about their children, or damaged by their parents. And many folks you know could claim all three.
But I’m not discouraged by this, because after all, this is the world, not Heaven. We live in a place where the devil, “the prince of this world” (John 12:31), still has free rein. We shouldn’t be surprised by disappointment or dysfunction where he is allowed to continue his dirty work.
Our experience proves the truth of the warning Jesus gave his disciples just before his crucifixion: “In this world you will have trouble” (John 16:33).
I used to be surprised by trouble. I just expected that everything would work out right—people would keep their promises, leaders would make sound decisions, and money would never run out.
You might think such a Pollyanna would become a cynic after several decades of crashing up against life’s hard realities. But I’ve come to take comfort in the certainty that life is hard, because this life is not supposed to be easy. But that need not discourage us; our hope is an eternity free of tears and trials.
Take Heart in a Broken World
When Jesus promised trouble he didn’t stop there. “Take heart!” he added. “I have overcome the world.”
And his followers seek to be overcomers too. In a way, to a degree, they succeed at this. As they submit to his power and appeal to his Spirit and yield to his Word, they experience a peace that transcends all understanding (Philippians 4:7).
But still they set goals and miss them. They act too hesitantly or too hastily. They speak too timidly or too harshly. They offend, misjudge, or misunderstand. They choose or decide or spend foolishly and then suffer from the fallout of their mistakes. They watch people they love suffer, and finally they themselves die.
Of course we’re sad in the face of all this; every work of the devil brings us pain. But we need not be discouraged, because this world is only an overture to the life all of us are seeking.
Author: Mark A. Taylor
Mark A. Taylor, who served as Christian Standard editor from 2003 to 2017, retired in June 2017 after almost 41 years with Standard Publishing (Christian Standard Media).
