Receiving discouragement during your walk with Christ from other believers can leave you feeling shattered. Lately, I’ve wondered how some believers lack the most faith and can be the most discouraging. As a newbie in Christ, receiving discouragement from other believers shook me. Especially the believers who shared their revelations and promises from God with me. Hearing these mind-blowing revelations, I still encouraged them because I believe God can do anything. If He confirmed it was from Him, that’s what it is. The problem came when I decided to share my mind-blowing revelations from God. I did not receive encouragement. I received discouragement.
I’ve shared with other believers things God has revealed to me and was treated like I was delusional. They said, “That can’t be from God since it isn’t going well for you,” “That may be the devil,” or “God is not the author of confusion.” These people have no idea how God works. Since God’s thoughts are not our thoughts, and His ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9), it is possible that I can receive my promises as well. Listen, if I get the courage to share with you something God has revealed to me, know that it took all that was in me because most of what God reveals to anyone sounds insane. You think you’re shocked when I share? Imagine my reaction when it dropped in my spirit. The last thing I need is for a “believer” to make me feel delusional or discouraged.
Most of what God reveals sounds bizarre. It takes vulnerability to share such things. I went to people because I wanted encouragement to keep going when things seemed the opposite. It’s not that I needed their opinion or validation. To be clear, I don’t need anybody’s opinion or validation. Especially concerning revelation from God Himself. God never told me to tell others what He promised me. I did it because I felt alone. I brought it up to vent. This walk with Christ is lonely and should not be walked alone.
Uncertainty mixed with discouragement made me think God was a liar and manipulator. I started believing it was all in my head. However, each time those thoughts crept in, God reassured me with signs and confirmation that it was from Him. I would ask, fast, and pray, still choosing to believe the people who discouraged me over Him.
After months of battling with uncertainty, God revealed something else to me. He was not going to prove them wrong or prove me right. He said I can choose to have faith in His word or not. In scripture, I was reminded that His word does not return to Him void (Isaiah 55:10-11). Also, He is not a man that He should lie, nor the son of man that He should repent (Numbers 23:19). God never revealed anything that would harm me. He revealed good things about my life and His kingdom.
I thought to myself, there is no way I could have made these things up because I never thought of these things. “Eyes have not seen, ears have not heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him” (1 Corinthians 2:9). Hmm…
And there is no way it could be from Satan. He wouldn’t tempt me to destroy his kingdom, help save souls, or speak good over my life. Satan will never rise against his kingdom (Matthew 12:25-26).
I’ve learned that God will allow believers to discourage you as a test. They are being used and don’t even know it. I eventually stopped asking God for signs and confirmation. It felt like I was indirectly telling Him I didn’t believe Him. I also stopped venting to others about what He revealed about me. If it’s for them, He would reveal it to them. I am only to tell others what God tells me concerning them, for example, a warning, instruction, or prophecy.
Some things you must keep to yourself until they happen. Others, you may have to tell so that people can be witnesses. If you tell others before time, it could cause problems. We find an example of this in the Bible with the story of Joseph. Joseph was given two dreams from God and told his brothers about it and his father Jacob. His brothers’ reactions were anger and jealousy. Jacob questioned it but kept the saying in mind (Genesis 37:11).
Joseph’s brothers were already jealous of him because of the favor he received from Jacob, including the coat of many colors. I don’t believe Jacob intentionally showed favoritism. Joseph was his favorite because he was one of two children by his wife, Rachel, whom he worked hard for. I understand how Joseph felt and how his brothers felt. I have been on both ends. I’ve told loved ones about my prophetic gifts and how God communicates with me, and I felt envy and hate from some of them. I’ve also been overlooked due to favoritism.
Jealousy or discouragement can come from your family, spouse, loved ones, and other believers. The truth is, some are envious and hate you. People wear invisible masks all the time, pretending to like you. The enemy will use the ones closest to you because those are the ones you least expect the hate from.
You may experience confusion after God reveals things to you. Many believers throw out the verse “God is not the author of confusion,” found in 1 Corinthians 14:33. That verse is often one of many taken out of context in the Bible. Yes, God is not the author of confusion, but in that verse, Paul refers to the confusion happening in church meetings. Many people were speaking at once in various ways, causing confusion (1 Corinthians 14:26-33). Later says, “For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.”
Taking that verse out of context will leave you thinking that your promise isn’t from God but the enemy, causing you to miss out on what God is trying to manifest in your life. Satan does operate in confusion, and you can experience confusion during trials. For there to be peace, you have to shift your focus toward God’s Word and away from the circumstances around you. God’s revelation doesn’t change just because of our confused logic of how things will go.
Anything God sends, He confirms. Confirmation can happen by reading the Bible, prayer, fasting, dreams or visions, ministry, prophetic words, songs, etc., and it will resonate with your spirit. Anything from Satan will contradict the word of God, including our thoughts. Things from him will be sinful, come easy or suddenly, and always go against God’s will. The enemy will always offer you a quick solution, but not God. With God, you must be in it for the long run, even if you feel incapable, confused, disqualified, crazy, or doubtful.
If you had a blueprint of how everything would go, including the tests you would have to pass, you would probably turn the promises down, leaving no room for perseverance, strengthened character, or faith to grow. Without hope or faith, there would be no need for God. His entire being runs on faith. “For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience” (Romans 8:24-26). The fact that you can’t see God because He’s invisible requires faith.
How could God get the glory if you could do that impossible task yourself? You wouldn’t need Him. He wants us to depend on Him and trust Him. God is faithful. He does not change, neither does He change His mind. What is impossible for us is not impossible for Him (Matthew 19:26).
“But without faith, it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6). Whatever God reveals will often be counterintuitive to our reality. It will contradict our logic. It is so that only God gets the glory. Our faith is what moves Him.
Joseph’s older brothers were so jealous and hateful of him that they plotted to murder him. All except for one, Reuben. He suggested that they throw him in a pit instead. Are you in a pit right now? This is the place where you feel alone, tested, betrayed, and discouraged the most. Having gone through many tests, Joseph’s dreams still came to pass, and with faith, yours can too!
Whatever God says is going to happen will happen. We may not know when or how, but during the process, God will allow the enemy to test us (Job 1:6-12). This reveals our faith, heart posture, and attitude. Maybe God has revealed some mind-blowing things to you, and people think you’re crazy. Ignore the discouragement. If God reveals and confirms it, be confident that it is already done! Your faith, attitude, and endurance are the key.