Part 1 | Don’t Give In To Discouragement

What To Do When You're Under Attack
5/18/2025 | Mark Hartman

Message Summary

Life often brings unexpected difficulties that can leave us feeling discouraged, much like driving through dense fog without visibility. When facing tough times, our focus determines our happiness more than our circumstances. Discouragement typically stems from fatigue, frustration, failure, or fear—essentially focusing on what's wrong instead of what's true.The book of 1 Peter provides four powerful truths to help us find hope in seemingly hopeless situations. First, every problem is temporary—we are merely 'aliens' in this world with our true citizenship in heaven. Second, God's faithfulness is forever—He chose us before creation, knowing all our weaknesses and failures. Third, even when invisible to us, God continues working in our lives through His Spirit, cleansing us, making us more like Jesus, and freeing us from anxiety. Finally, our inheritance in Christ is secure, protected not by our perfect behavior but by God's power.Like Florence Chadwick who initially failed to swim from Catalina Island to Los Angeles due to fog but succeeded on her second attempt by visualizing the shoreline, we too can overcome life's fog by keeping God's truths in mind. When discouragement comes, we must shift our focus from what is wrong to what is true, viewing temporary struggles through an eternal perspective.