Is discouragement inevitable?

Are you discouraged? Do you get discouraged often? Are there particular people who discourage you, either with their words or their unwillingness to commit or even their spiritual immaturity? I think of the apostle Paul opening his heart in his letters to the churches and to individuals.

This is a man who, after turning his life over to Christ, became what we would call a "super" Christian. He was on fire for the Lord, and nothing could bring him down...or could it.

In I Corinthians 1:11, he states: "For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe's household, that there are contentions among you." Did this hit Paul like a kick in the stomach? He loved the Corinthian church and now he hears that they are dividing themselves. Not over doctrine, but over who baptized whom. This sounds like a schoolyard bragging contest - My dad can beat up your dad! Does he throw in the towel? No! He calmly and lovingly corrects these immature Christians in their understanding of their place in God's kingdom.

Also in I Corinthians, chapter 11, Paul corrects the church in its observance of the Lord's Supper. He rebukes them for the way they are making it a meal and leaving the reason for its observance.

Was he discouraged by these Corinthian Christians? Maybe. Did he write them off? No. He brought to their remembrance the Last Supper and showed them again the reason why they were there on the first day of the week.

Lastly, in II Timothy, chapter 4, Paul laments the loss of his fellow workers, Demas, Crescens and Titus, to the sinful world. This would be discouraging to almost anyone who worked with someone from their conversion on. Paul moves forward with no time to waste on mourning. He is already making plans for further work in the Lord's kingdom.

Do not be discouraged. Press on. Strive for the prize. Run the race.