Discouragement is a sin…or so I was told.

On a good day that’s a harsh statement.

I was not having a good day.

Imagine how that felt. Being discouraged is bad enough, but then it turned out my emotions were also sinful.

Thankfully I know better now.

Thankfully, the ultimate direction is from the words and life of Jesus bared in the scriptures for everyone to see.

God could have sugar-coated the life of his Son. He didn’t have to give us a view of the emotions of Jesus, but perhaps he knew that someone would try to clobber down his children using their emotions.

I’m no theologian, but when Jesus cried, I’m assuming it was because He was sad. When He begged God to spare Him Calvary, that was God in the flesh struggling with fear.

Turns out Jesus experienced the emotional gamut that comes with being human.

He laughed, He danced, He wept, and He was afraid

And He was not just the son of God. He was the spotless lamb of God who took away the sins of the world.

Human emotions didn’t make Jesus any less divine, but they did highlight His humanity. And being human is something we’re all too familiar with.

In our day to day,  good and bad emotions are part of the human experience

Turns out that’s okay.

You’re not any less loved because you’re sad, afraid, angry, stressed or discouraged. Same way you’re not anymore loved if you’re happy, excited, fulfilled or pleased.

Our emotions tend to be functions of what’s going on around us and only robots feel perfect at all times regardless of the circumstances.

Of course there is a counter argument. I’m not advocating for wallowing in negative emotions. I am saying that God has a heart for those who feel bad and probably a bigger heart for those who feel bad because they feel bad.

Gethsemane would probably be the one place most people will consider as Jesus’ lowest point pre – Calvary; but something else happened there. Jesus didn’t  have to talk himself back into not being afraid because God sent help.  

In a throwback to Elijah’s tantrum, the Father sent an angel. 

We’re not told whether Jesus got a meal like Elijah, and we are certainly not told that  God rebuked his servant or his Son in their lowest moments. What we are given is a picture of what God does when we’re just about done.

Our Father still sends  help to his children.

To those neck deep in depression.

To the mentally clocked out workers dealing with burn out.

He sends help to those tired of waiting for the miracle.

He sends help to those who don’t have it in them to try again

Maybe that’s you today.

Maybe not.

Maybe that was you in times past.

It is possible that could be you in the coming future.

Or maybe you’re the help God is sending to someone.

Maybe instead of a sneer, you can give a smile

Maybe instead of an eye roll, you could give a hug

And if you are the one struggling with discouragement, don’t be surprised if God shows up with a meal instead of a lecture.

Yours is a road that Jesus has walked.

Trust that God will help you on it.