Sometimes life gets rough, doesn’t it? Troubles sometimes blot out the REAL meaning of if all and we build walls out of circumstances until we wonder how long we can survive behind their protection. Discouragement sets in and, out of all our enemies, discouragement is perhaps the most deadly.

When we become discouraged our thinking is infected. We are no longer able to see things in their true perspective. The negative aspects of our lives loom so large that our view of the "whole" picture is obscured.

The story of some ancient men, students of a Rabbi from Nazareth, while on the Sea of Galilee, in Mark chapter 4 of the Bible, is a clear illustration.

This is how the story goes:

“And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship so that it was now full. And Jesus was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, Master, do you not care that we perish? And He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, Peace, Be still! And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. And He said to them, Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?”

These men had become so concerned with the waves that they had forgotten their own abilities to take control of their circumstances. In other words, they allowed their circumstances to blind them to their own powers to overcome. After all, anyone can have faith when the sea is calm and the sky is blue. But this Rabbi, raised the question of their own lack when the waves were pounding, danger was threatening and the Rabbi seemed strangely disconnected from the situation. The important thing to remember is that they didn't exercise faith in their abilities, despite the appearance of things, just a little inner strength would have provided them with what they needed in this circumstance.

I have in my file a little card marked “When Discouragement Hits”. Let me share what is written on it. There are five questions, and the answers to all of them are obvious.

1. Is the Teacher discouraged, or is it just me?
2. Is the Teacher in danger of going down to defeat?
3. Is the situation REALLY too difficult for ME to handle?
4. Have I surrendered to the circumstances of the situation?
5. If not, then why should I be discouraged?

I have had reason to ask myself those questions from time to time, and after giving my answers I have discovered that the sea of circumstance is not quite as tempestuous as I had thought it to be. That just as the Rabbi said, “Peace, be still!”; so can WE!