The apostle Paul was fed up in Acts chapter 18 -- but could you blame him?

It seemed every time he opened his mouth he got in trouble. In the city of Lystra, he told the people to turn from pagan worship (Acts 14), and the people stoned him. He cast out a demon in the city of Philippi (Acts 16:18) and got thrown into jail. He preached in the cities of Thessalonica and Berea that Jesus is Messiah (Acts 17), and some people stirred up the crowds to riot. Life was not easy for a trouble magnet like Paul. 

And, yet, Paul hadn't learned his lesson. In Acts chapter 18, we see him preaching in the city of Corinth that Jesus is Messiah. Surprise, surprise. Paul was getting in trouble again. 

Some of the Jews in the synagogue started opposing Paul and calling him names (verse 6). Now simple opposition and a few slanderous remarks don't seem like a big deal. But in this case, Paul was pushed over the edge. Maybe he was thinking, "Here we go again." To the man who had "been there, done that and got the T-toga" (let the reader understand), he was probably thinking, "OK, it starts here with a few mean comments and then what? Am I going to get stoned again? Are we going to see another riot? I'm not in the mood for this today." 

And so, the apostle Paul blows his top: "He (Paul) shook out his clothes in protest and said to them, 'Your blood be on your own heads! I am clear of my responsibility. From now on I will go to the Gentiles'" (verse 6). And Paul stormed out of the synagogue. 

Paul was frustrated that the message wasn't getting through. He felt -- at least at that moment -- like throwing in the towel. 

Ever been there? 

Have you honored God at your school or workplace, only to be mocked? Have you bent over backwards to love a relative and share Christ with them, even though they've scorched you every time? Have you worked night and day at what you believe to be God's calling on your life, only to see a little fruit? Welcome to Paul's world.

But what a shame it would have been if Paul had quit at that point. If he had taken a step back, he would have seen that there was some success in Corinth. The synagogue leader and many other people believed in Jesus (verse 8). Paul just needed a little encouragement, and God gave him some: "One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: 'Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city'" (verses 9-10).

Paul had a call on his life, and it wasn't always easy to live it out. But God encouraged him to keep at it. He reminded him that He Himself was with the apostle. He also reminded Paul that He had other people in that city. And so, Paul stuck it out and invested another year and a half building up a newborn church (verse 11). 

When you get overwhelmed and feel like calling it quits on what God has called you to do, step back and take a breath. Look at what progress has already been made. Remember God's presence and protection in your life. Remember that God has other people working out His will. (It just may turn out that your Uncle Stuart's golf buddy has been witnessing to him all these years, too). And then, step back into whatever it is God has called you to do. We've still got many miles to go.

"If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses?" -- Jeremiah 12:5