Elisabeth Elliot: Let's review the definition of discouragement. It is a weakening of confidence. Is your confidence in yourself growing weaker? That's a good sign. Is your confidence in God growing weak? That's a bad sign.

Lisa Barry: That's certainly contrary to what the world tells us, isn't it? It says to trust no one, except yourself. I guess when someone says that so forcefully, we believe it for a while. At least, until the bottom falls out of life and we realize we're powerless to control the many circumstances of our lives. That's when it's time to come to grips on where our confidence needs to lie-in God.

But how does that work itself out in everyday life? Have you ever wondered just how you can have God's power at work in your life? Elisabeth Elliot is about to tell us, as she responds to the letter of a listener who is very discouraged today. Let's all learn from her life, as we begin this Wednesday edition of Gateway To Joy. Here's Elisabeth.

Elisabeth Elliot: "You are loved with an everlasting love." That's what the Bible says. "And underneath are the everlasting arms." This is your friend Elisabeth Elliot, talking with you today about discouragement.

Am I speaking to anyone who is discouraged? Probably so. Probably there are quite a few of you who are discouraged. I had a letter from a woman in Ohio. This is what she says: "Let me first of all say thank you for your radio ministry. I only wish I could financially help support you, but I am unable to.

My prayer request is for direction, hope and rest. I am a home-schooling mother of four children. One is a year old. These days, I am unsure if I should still be home schooling because I fail so often to handle the stress from the many demands on my time. As badly as I want it to work, often I end up angry and discouraged. I have no time to myself. Inside, I'm falling apart. I pray, but I seldom see real answers from the Lord. Sometimes I find myself wondering if He's even there at all."

Well, that is real discouragement, isn't it? My heart goes out to this woman. May the Lord make Himself real and dear to you and remind you that even though you don't see the answers, it's probably because you're looking for one kind of answer and God has another one in mind. He is answering. God always answers our prayers.

Very often His answer is contrary to what we were asking, but it is an answer, isn't it? Just as you mothers and fathers have to say no to your children, you say no to them not because you don't love them, but precisely because you do love them. That's the same with our Heavenly Father. He has to say no to us. We ask for foolish things. They seem sensible to us. We think we're asking for what will be the solution to our problem, but of course the truth is that only our Heavenly Father knows how long we need to bear this particular difficulty or temptation. And our Heavenly Father knows exactly how much you can take.

The Bible says, "No temptation has taken you but such as is common to man, but God is faithful and He will never allow you to be tempted beyond your ability to bear. But He will, with the temptation, make a way of escape."

Have you kept a record of your prayers? I bet you haven't. I bet there are a whole lot of you out there who have never even thought about what a help it would be to your faith if you would right down some of your more desperate prayers. Put a date on them and leave a blank space in your notebook. You'd be amazed if you went back six months later to see how many of those prayers have been answered in miraculous ways that you never thought of. Or how many of them have actually been answered in ways you did think of, but you just forgot to thank the Lord. I strongly recommend it. It's a wonderful antidote to discouragement.

Let's review the definition of discouragement. It is a weakening of confidence. Is your confidence in yourself growing weaker? That's a good sign. Is your confidence in God growing weaker? That's a bad sign.

Our confidence in God will be strengthened as we commune with Him in His Word, as we keep records of the ways in which He has blessed us that we have already forgotten about. Write them down so you don't forget. Don't be disheartened.

There are many temptations throughout life, and always there is the whisper in our ear of the tempter. When we're discouraged, what is he saying to us? "Give it up. It's not working. God isn't interested in your success." That's a subtle one, isn't it? No. He really isn't interested in your success if success is measured according to the world's standards.

There's only one plan for enduring success. It's John 12:24, one of my life verses. "Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone. But if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit." You and I are the corn of wheat. We have to fall into the ground and die into the darkness, into the hidden place, like a seed. But if it dies, it brings forth fruit, doesn't it?

If you leave the sunflower seeds in the cupboard in the kitchen, they're not going to get anywhere, are they? They're not going to produce anything. The seed has to fall into the ground and die. The acorn has to fall into the ground in order to produce another oak tree.

Death to the self is God's plan for enduring success. That verse that I just gave you was the verse that Jesus gave right after the triumphant entry into Jerusalem, when He was hailed with palm branches and hosannas. And because of His having raised Lazarus from the dead, there were some Greeks who wanted to see this Miracle-worker. So the disciples came to Jesus and they said, "There are some Greeks here who want to see You."

Jesus gave them these strange words: "Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abides alone. But if it die, it brings forth much fruit." The Greeks were looking for something dramatic and glorious and exciting. Jesus was pointing out that true glory came through death to the self.

For you and me, it has to be a personal, quiet, deliberate transaction with the Lord. I must die daily, die to my preferences, die to my selfishness, die to my plans, my demands, my hopes. Is this because God wants to ruin all my fun? No. It's because He wants to have the control in order that He may give us fullness of joy. He tells us, "Do not be afraid. Do not be discouraged." And these are orders.

Do you know that lovely Gospel song, "Why should I feel discouraged? Why should the shadows come? Why should my heart feel lonely and long for heaven and home, if Jesus is my portion, my constant Friend is He; His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me."

Old Ethel Waters used to sing that song so beautifully in Billy Graham's crusades. I remember how, when she'd come to that last line, she'd say, "His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches we." That's the way she always sang it at the end.

Jesus said, "'Let not your heart be troubled,' His tender word I hear. And resting on His goodness, I lose my doubts and fear. Though by the path He leadeth but one step I may see, His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me. Whenever I am tempted, whenever clouds arise, when songs give place to sighing, when hope within me dies, I draw the closer to Him; from care He sets me free. His eye is on the sparrow and I know He cares for me."

Someone has said, "Ask not whether the assigned task is compassable," which means doable, "just start doing it." Ask not whether the assigned task is compassable, just start doing it.

When the will of God becomes impossible to obey, as it seems to us, it's amazing how it becomes possible once we have put our shoulder under the cross, lifted it up in the strength of the Lord and taken one step forward.

Jesus told the multitudes that if they wanted to be His disciple, they would have to start by giving up their right to themselves. Then they would have to take up the cross. Daily, He said, and then follow.

What does it mean to take up the cross daily? It means, quite simply, accepting small duties which are distasteful to you. Put your shoulder under that cross. Take it up and start walking and you will be amazed at how the strength of the Lord will carry you through that day. It is amazing. Your courage will be restored. Your discouragement will be banished and the devil will be vanquished.

Remember that verse in Isaiah 50:7: "The Lord God will help me; therefore, shall I not be confounded. Therefore, have I set my face like a flint and I know that I shall not be ashamed."

I speak to you, whoever you are, who are wallowing in a swamp of self-pity. Remember those words. These are promises from Almighty God. He keeps His Word. "The Lord God will help me; therefore, shall I not be confounded. Therefore, have I set my face like a flint and I know that I shall not be ashamed."

Lisa Barry: Well, as we say good-bye for today, I want to quickly tell you about two things that might be of interest. The first is a booklet called DO THE NEXT THING. When you can't think of what needs to be done, just do the next thing. So many people have been helped by this, and I want you to be also. We'd be happy to send you one complimentary copy when you call to ask for it. And don't forget to purchase a copy of this series for $7. It's called DISCOURAGEMENT.

Our address is Gateway To Joy, Box 82500, Lincoln, Nebraska, 68501. Or call toll-free: 1-800-759-4JOY. That's 1-800-759-4569. Our Internet ministry address is gatewaytojoy.org. Gateway To Joy has been a production of Back to the Bible.

Tomorrow Elisabeth talks about what it means to earnestly seek God, so be sure and join us then for anotherr Gateway To Joy.