If you are like me, you are going to follow Jesus no matter what people say or do and no matter how hard it gets. Following Christ is always hard. Some times are harder than others. Jesus warned us it would not be easy. “You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved.” Matthew 10:22. The way our Lord says this it sounds like a promise. Hatred is coming. Expect it. “Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.” Matthew 24:9. If you fully commit to being Christ-like you can expect opposition from the world. “If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.” John 15:19. Mark it down. The world is going to try every way possible to discourage you from faithfully worshipping God and teaching others what you believe about God’s will for our lives. Those of us who have been Christians for decades can remember times when it was easier to worship God and to share our faith in the workplace, in school and in the community. Satan has done his job well and there are restrictions in our society that did not used to be there. Assembling for worship is more difficult, and I’m not talking about COVID. The world is trying to convince us that assembled worship needs to be less frequent and less important than other responsibilities. Those who listen to these worldly ideas are slipping away from God. The best weapon we have against a discouraging world is encouragement from one another. Someone near you is discouraged and your timely outreach could turn things around for them. Tougher times demand tougher Christians. Let’s encourage and strengthen each other today.