“Even after we arrived in Macedonia, we couldn’t rest physically. We were surrounded by problems. There was external conflict, and there were internal fears. However, God comforts people who are discouraged, and he comforted us by Titus’ arrival.” (2 Corinthians 7:5-6)
St. Paul experienced difficult problems including conflicts with people inside and outside the church. He was discouraged. But the Lord encouraged him through his friend Titus and positive contact with his friends at Corinth.
Recently, I’ve been discouraged by conflicts within the church evident at last week’s Florida Annual Conference. This conflict is already leading to an exodus of churches from the United Methodist Church (14 congregations last week) and separation from some of my clergy friends. One of my clergy friends wept because her home church (and her dying father’s) was disaffiliating from the UMC. I listened and tried to encourage her.
I am grateful that when I returned from Annual Conference, Yvonne encouraged me as did my clergy group (non-Methodist). Even though we are sometimes downcast, “God comforts people who are discouraged.” How does the Lord comfort us? Through friends. If you are discouraged, I pray that God will bring a friend along to encourage you.
Dr. Sam
