Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God in Corinth, together with all the saints throughout Achaia. 2 Corinthians 1:1 (NIV)
Timothy’s ministry in Corinth ended badly, but that was not the end of his usefulness. Here are three lessons from his life that will help you overcome disappointment.
Stand firm in your calling. By the time Paul wrote his second letter to the Corinthians, Timothy was back with him (1:1). Timothy didn’t quit. He went back to Paul, and eventually he became a pastor at Ephesus.
This teaches an essential truth: failure in one assignment doesn’t change the call of God on your life. So stand firm in your calling, not your particular assignment.
Grow in your character. Once Timothy rejoined Paul, life did not suddenly get easy for him, but he and Paul would go on to endure great hardships together in Asia:
“We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life… But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.” (1:8, 9)
Often, you can see some way through your problems. But in Asia the missionaries could see no way out. They found themselves cast back on God, who raises the dead.
It was through these experiences that Paul and Timothy became the men of God they were. When you can find God’s grace in hardship, you will grow in character.
Receive the comfort of God. Let the Holy Spirit’s comfort be ministered both to you and through you to others:
“Praise be to… God…who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.” (1:3-4)
Are you tempted to quit? Which of these three lessons do you need most right now?
