Facing Rejection and Discouragement

Being a Christian is very frustrating. We say, “We have found eternal life!” In fact, to say that the gospel is good news is the understatement of eternity. And yet most, when told of the unspeakable gift, are ho-hum when they should break down in tears of joy. Some even outright reject it.

It’s no fun having someone walk away when you’re still talking to them. The door is being closed in your face, and there’s nothing much you can do about it other than to respect their wishes. When it happens to me, I try to show respect and kindness. Our consolation is that the rich young ruler walked away from Jesus (see Mark 10:22), and if that happened to Jesus, we shouldn’t be surprised when it happens to us. The best thing you can do for yourself is to continue sharing the gospel with anyone who will listen and trust in the promise of 1 Corinthians 15:58: Our work for God is never in vain.

There is a temptation to think to ourselves when someone rejects the gospel, You will regret this on the day of judgment. But thinking we will say, “I told you so,” on that day isn’t something we can take consolation in. The stakes are too high. This is the precious life of a human being. Instead of spending our energies on thinking such thoughts, we should get on our knees for them, praying that God removes the blinders from those who don’t fear him or understand the consequences of sin.

Think about how sin once deceived you with its pleasures, and then think soberly of this evil world’s terrible fate. Such thoughts should put wings on our feet. We should daily pray for and run to the lost and plead with them to repent and trust in Jesus—because their precious lives depend on it.

Why should we always be steadfast in our labor for the gospel? Why should we be stubbornly immovable, always abounding in that labor knowing that it’s not in vain? Because we are laboring with Almighty God, who has accomplished through the gospel the most amazing, most wonderfully incredible thing for humanity. He destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light for dying sinners! How could we ever become discouraged? We will not. We cannot.