Tuning Out The Voices of Discouragement
Part of Think Healthy, Live Healthy—Winning The Battle Between Your Ears
March 17, 2024

Tuning Out The Voices of Discouragement
*Sunday | March 17, 2024*
Pastor Ray Parascando

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What are discouraging voices?
Discouraging voices can be people, problems, pain, or past mistakes that make you think discouragement is a permanent condition instead of a temporary challenge.


Challenge of Discouragement
First Samuel 17:4-8a / ESV, “And there came out from the camp of the Philistines a champion named Goliath of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. 5 He had a helmet of bronze on his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail, and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of bronze. 6 And he had bronze armor on his legs, and a javelin of bronze slung between his shoulders. 7 The shaft of his spear was like a weaver’s beam, and his spear’s head weighed six hundred shekels of iron. And his shield-bearer went before him. 8 He stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel…”

+ Goliath tried to discourage the Israeli Army v:8-9
+ Eliab tried to discourage David, v:28
+ Saul tried to discourage David, v:33-34
+ Goliath tried to discourage David, 41-46


1. Be faithful with my little
First Samuel 17:17-18 / ESV, “And Jesse said to David his son, “Take for your brothers an ephah of this parched grain, and these ten loaves, and carry them quickly to the camp to your brothers. 18 Also take these ten cheeses to the commander of their thousand. See if your brothers are well, and bring some token from them.”

Luke 16:10 / NLT, “If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.”

2. Pay

to the Voice of Truth
First Samuel 17:32-33; 37 / CSB,  David said to Saul, “Don’t let anyone be discouraged by him; your servant will go and fight this Philistine!” 33 But Saul replied, “You can’t go fight this Philistine. You’re just a youth, and he’s been a warrior since he was young.”37 Then David said, “The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.”

John 8:32 / ESV, “And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Romans 15:4 / NLT, “Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.”


3. Shift my from defeat to victory
First Samuel 17:45-46; Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand…”

First Corinthians 15:57 / ESV, “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

My next steps

Read: First Samuel 17
Review: Psalm 29:3; Luke 16:10; John 8:32
Remember: Discouragement is temporary
Return for church on Palm Sunday: 9am, 11am, & 6 pm