In our last visit we looked at 1st Thessalonians 2:17-3:13 to see how Paul coped with discouragement and how feeling connected and accountable can help us during times of discouragement.
Let me illustrate: Paul shared some things that contributed to his discouragement and some steps that helped cure his discouragement. Read this section again and notice what things contributed to his discouragement.
Paul said in 2:17, when he was torn away from them it was as though he had been orphaned. The words “torn away from you,” suggest a negative, unexpected and painful experience. He follows this up by describing his frustrated efforts of trying to get back to see them, “but Satan stopped us” (verse 18). Setbacks are discouraging.
In chapter 3, verses 1 - 5 he admits his impatience. Listen: “When we could stand it no longer,” and “when I could stand it no longer.” The negative, painful circumstances were getting to him. He lacked information about how these new believers were doing according to 3:5.
This led to his fear of failure. He admitted, “I was afraid that in some way the tempter might have tempted you and our efforts might have been useless.” Isn’t it interesting how one negative leads to another until the fear of failure grips us with discouragement?
We don’t have to remain discouraged, however. In our next visit we’ll see how Paul broke free from it.
