Sufferings and Discouragement

        Every now and then I go over to the local Veterans Medical Facility for an examination. It is filled with veterans young and old who have been all kinds of dangerous situations. I was in the Navy during Viet Nam but that doesn't put me in the class of the usual Viet Nam veteran. I never saw combat duty as I was stationed at a school command for my entire nine years. The most physical suffering I had been subjected to was sitting in front of three trombones and three trumpets. Many of the veterans are without either legs, arms, or both. They have suffered far more than I ever did so it doesn't take long to realize that I am pretty well off for my age. Second Corinthians 11:23 says, “ Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.” 
         This passage begins with the above verse and goes on to list the events that took place in the life of the Apostle Paul. When you think about the right to be discouraged, Paul would seem to have had that right. Paul was dedicated to the ministry in which he was involved and he did it faithfully until the end. He never faulted even though he had perhaps a right to do so. He suffered at the hands of his enemies and even the church people. He could have died in some of the instances where he found himself. This email devotion goes out to a group of people that have the capability to receive it and to read it. That means they have a computer and some form of power to be able to even get it in the first place. Compared to the Apostle Paul, we no right to complain about what is going on in our life. Paul's mission was totally given to the ministry of spreading the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to as many people as he possibly could. He never wavered even in the midst of terrible conditions that would have turned many of us around and back to the living room chair. For us, discouragement seems to come when things just don't go our way. We have plans on how things should progress and when those things fail to materialize as we think, we get discouraged. Remember however that discouragement is relative to your situation. When you come to a time of discouragement, just remember the Apostle Paul's situation and read all of the section that begins with the above verse of Scripture. For some, rain on a Sunday morning will prevent them from going to church. For others, a pain in one foot, a sniffle, cold weather or getting up late will also prevent them from doing the Lord's work. Just think about Paul's beatings of 39 lashes, of robbers, sinking ships, abuse and danger and all of the other things mentioned. How would you feel then? On the positive side, we have the promises of the Bible that assure us that God will never leave us, that God will supply all of our needs, that Jesus will someday return and that even if you die, you will be with God in heaven for all eternity. Now, how good is that! When you seem to be getting discouraged just remind yourself of the promises of God and all of the storm clouds will pass away. Praise God today for the fact that He does supply all of our needs all of the time according to His Word.