I sometimes find myself wondering what it would have been like to travel with the apostles—spreading the gospel, walking into the unknown, following God with nothing but faith and purpose. The early missionary journeys must have been exhilarating… and exhausting.

Take the apostle Paul, for example.
He had a reputation—bold, brilliant, relentless.
He didn’t hold back. He challenged everything. And his boldness often landed him—and those traveling with him—in trouble.

Silas was beaten and imprisoned for standing with Paul.
Others suffered alongside him.
And some, it seems, just couldn’t keep up.

John Mark might have been one of those.

When the Journey Felt Too Hard

Mark started strong.
He joined Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey, setting out from Antioch with high hopes. They traveled across Cyprus, teaching and ministering wherever they went. But when the team reached Pamphylia—modern-day Turkey—Mark left. Scripture simply tells us that he returned to Jerusalem.

We don’t get much detail.
Was he overwhelmed? Homesick? Discouraged?
We don’t know why he left—only that he did.

And Paul didn’t forget.

Later, when another missionary journey was forming, Paul refused to let Mark come along. He saw Mark’s departure as abandonment. But Barnabas—true to his name, “Son of Encouragement”—saw something different.

He saw a young man who deserved another chance.

When the Team Divides—and Grace Prevails

Paul and Barnabas disagreed so strongly over Mark that they went separate ways. Barnabas took Mark and continued his own outreach. Paul chose Silas as his new partner.

But here’s what I love:
Scripture doesn’t frame this as a permanent rift.

Over time, Mark grew into a faithful, trusted disciple.
In fact, later on, Paul would refer to him as “useful to me for ministry” (2 Timothy 4:11).
That’s quite the turnaround—from unreliable companion to beloved co-laborer.

It’s a beautiful reminder that conflict doesn’t have to mean the end.

Sometimes, it opens the door for growth.
Sometimes, it clarifies values and direction.
Sometimes, it leads us right back to grace.

We Serve the God of Second Chances

I imagine Mark didn’t enjoy being the reason two giants of the faith disagreed.
But I also imagine he never forgot that someone believed in him.

That second chance shaped his story.

And it reminds me of my own.
Of all the times God has given me another chance—when I didn’t earn it, when I knew better, when I failed anyway.

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us,
in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
— Romans 5:8

Even while we were still in conflict with Him—He made a way to reconcile us to Himself.
He stepped in.
He bore the weight.
He chose grace.

That truth still astonishes me.

A Closing Thought

We talk a lot about grace in theory, but when we really see it in practice—in the restoration of Mark, in the mercy God extends to us—it should leave us speechless.

So today, if you’re carrying the sting of failure…
If you feel like you’ve missed your chance…
If you’re wondering if God can still use someone like you—

Remember this: He is the God of the second chance.

He gave one to Mark.
He gave one to Paul.
He gave one to me.
And He will give one to you.

What an amazing God.

Lately, I’ve been in a bit of a battle with discouragement.

It creeps in quietly sometimes—when life feels overwhelming, when progress feels slow, when the path ahead seems too steep or unclear. And tonight in church, while listening to our pastor teach from the book of Nehemiah, I found myself reflecting on that very feeling.

Discouragement is powerful. If we’re not careful, it can drain our strength, cloud our vision, and leave us stuck.

But it’s also a crossroad—a moment of decision.

Because when discouragement comes (and it will), we are faced with a choice:

• We can give in to it.

• We can assign blame.

• Or we can let it propel us toward purpose and renewal.

Nehemiah chose the third option. And what a difference that choice made.

Nehemiah: A Man Who Didn’t Stay Down

Nehemiah was a Jewish exile living in Persia—a man of trust and integrity who served as cupbearer to King Artaxerxes. His position was no small thing. As cupbearer, he had constant, intimate access to the king, and the role itself required loyalty, wisdom, and a steady spirit.

When news reached Nehemiah that the walls of Jerusalem had not been rebuilt—even after the temple had been restored—his heart broke.

A city without walls was vulnerable.
It couldn’t protect itself.
It couldn’t flourish.
It couldn’t be whole.

Nehemiah was discouraged. But he didn’t let that discouragement stop him.

From Discouragement to Action

Instead of spiraling into despair, Nehemiah turned to prayer and planning.
He poured out his heart to God, and then—when the moment came—he acted with boldness and clarity.

The king, who clearly cared for Nehemiah, noticed his downcast face and asked what was wrong. Nehemiah responded honestly, said a quick prayer under his breath, and asked the king for everything he needed to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.

And the king said yes.

Armed with prayer, purpose, and provision, Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem and led the people in one of the most remarkable restoration projects in Scripture. The wall was rebuilt—because discouragement didn’t get the final word.

What We Can Learn from Nehemiah

We all face seasons where we feel like the walls have crumbled—where things feel too broken or too big to fix.

And when discouragement hits, we still have a choice.

We can:

• Let it drag us into depression and inaction

• Use it as justification for blame or bitterness

• Or let it refine us—motivate us—push us toward something better

Nehemiah chose to let his discouragement fuel his purpose.
He turned to God first. He leaned into wisdom and boldness.
And God worked through him to bring restoration.

Choosing Growth in the Face of Discouragement

Discouragement doesn’t disqualify us. It invites us to choose how we’ll respond.

Will we wallow in it—or grow through it?

Will we let it hold us back—or will we hand it to God and let Him move?

“We can choose to allow discouragement to motivate us to find a way to solve the problem and not wallow in it, feeling sorry for ourselves. We can choose to grow from it. We can choose to allow God to work His mighty changes in us for His glory.”

It is, ultimately, our choice.

And sometimes the hardest, holiest thing we can do is simply choose to try again—to pray, to plan, to ask, and to press on in faith.

A Final Thought

If you’re feeling discouraged today, know this:

You are not alone.
You are not without options.
And you are not without hope.

Bring your discouragement to the Lord.
Let it be the beginning of something new.
Like Nehemiah, let it move you—not into despair, but into purpose.

You have the freedom and responsibility to choose.
Choose to rise. Choose to grow.
Choose to trust that God is not finished with your story yet.

“For a righteous man may fall seven times and rise again,
But the wicked shall fall by calamity.”
— Proverbs 24:16

“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling,
and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy…”
— Jude 24

Failure is something we all experience.
It humbles us.
It unsettles us.
It exposes our weaknesses, our pride, and our unmet expectations.

But here’s the good news: God is not surprised by our failure.
And He is not undone by it.
In fact, He can use it more powerfully than we imagine.

The Truth About Falling

Jude reminds us that God is able to keep us from stumbling—and yet, we know we do stumble. We falter. We fall. So how do we reconcile these two truths?

Here’s how: God’s ability to hold us doesn’t mean we never fall. It means we’re never beyond His reach when we do.

He knows that failure, when placed in His hands, becomes a refining tool.
It softens us.
It shapes us.
It makes us more aware of our need for grace—and more willing to extend it to others.

Failure Isn’t Final—Unless You Quit

Peter is one of Scripture’s most relatable examples.

He told Jesus boldly, “Even if everyone else stumbles, I never will.” (Matthew 26:33)

Jesus gently, but truthfully, told him otherwise. And sure enough, Peter denied Christ three times before morning broke.

But Peter’s failure didn’t begin with his denial.
It began with overconfidence—the belief that he was above falling.

That’s often where our own stumbling starts.
Not in the mistake itself, but in the pride that thinks we never could.

What We Do After Matters Most

When we fail, the temptation is to focus so fully on the failure that we forget God’s grace.

We say things like:

• “God can’t use me anymore.”

• “My ministry is over.”

• “I’ve ruined everything.”

• “This is who I am now.”

But the truth is, failure is never final unless we quit trying.

As long as we keep getting back up, keep learning, and keep moving forward with a surrendered heart, God is still at work.

“He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it…” (Philippians 1:6)

The Righteous Fall—But They Rise

Proverbs draws a striking contrast:
The righteous may fall again and again—but they rise.
The wicked fall and stay down.

Why the difference?
Because the righteous understand that failure is part of growth.
That stumbling doesn’t disqualify them from grace.
That God’s strength is made perfect in weakness.

Failure can destroy us.
Or it can shape us.
And the difference often lies in whether we’re willing to let God meet us in the middle of it.

God’s Definition of Success

God’s idea of success isn’t perfection.
It’s perseverance.

It’s humility.
It’s willingness to learn.
It’s openness to correction.
It’s the refusal to give up—even after we fall.

Failure can be one of the greatest teachers we’ll ever have.
It can remove our rough edges, soften our hearts, and redirect our paths.
It can teach us what not to do—and how to walk in deeper dependence on the One who never fails.

A Final Word of Encouragement

If you’ve fallen recently—or if you’re sitting in the aftermath of something you wish had gone differently—know this:

God is not finished with you.
He’s not ashamed of you.
And He doesn’t define you by your worst moment.

Bring your failure to Him.
Let Him shape it into wisdom.
Let Him use it for good.

And then… get back up.

Because you’re not alone.
And He’s not done yet.

Romans 16:1-16  I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea, that you may receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her in whatever business she has nee of you; for indeed she has been a helper of many and of myself also.  Greet Priscilla and Aquilla, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.  Likewise greet the church that is in their house. 

Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia to Christ.  Greet Mary, who labored much for us.  Greet Andronicus and Junia, my countrymen and my fellow prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.

Greet Amplias, my beloved in the Lord.  Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and Stachys, my beloved.  Greet Apelles, approved in Christ.  Greet those who are of the household of Aristobulus.  Greet Herodion, my countryman.  Greet those who are of the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord.

Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, who have labored in the Lord.  Greet the beloved persis, who labored much in the Lord.  Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.  Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren who are with them.  Greet Philogus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them.   Greet one another with a holy kiss.  The churches of Christ greet you.

Sometimes in our culture, we can forget that the church is not a building, not a place nor activity.  It’s easy at times to forget that we are the church.  This is not a passage which is studied often or preached on a great deal but it’s one which I personally find very encouraging.  Throughout the passage, believers are mentioned by name and the emphasis is on unity in the faith and the individual members which make up the Church of Christ.  Each name listed stands as a challenge to us today to follow the Lord ever more closely and serve His people ever more diligently.

First there was Phoebe, a Christian sister who deserved to be welcomed and befriended.  There are several things we can learn from her example.  The name Phoebe is one of the names of the goddess Diana which leads many scholars to believe she was a convert from a pagan religion.  (Actually, when you get right down to it, aren’t we all?)   Paul calls her “our sister,” meaning a sister in the faith of Christ.  Phoebe was a servant (diakonon) of the church at Cenchrea.  This is the same word as deacon.  She apparently served in some official capacity in her local church.  Paul gives two reasons the believers should welcome Phoebe: first believers are to always welcome and befriend other believers in a manner worthy of the saints.  The church is not an exclusive club nor a society of cliques.  Secondly, Phoebe had been a helper (prostasis) of many.   This word implies that she helped, protected, looked after, and provided for many people.  Our example from Phoebe?  We are to be servants of the church, constantly ministering to all who are in need.

Next there is Priscilla and Aquilla, a hospitable couple who opened their homes even as they risked death.  They were close companions of Paul and were originally residents of Rome.  In AD 52, the Roman emperor, Claudius, banished the Jews from Rom and this couple moved to Corinth.  They were tentmakers and went into business for a while with Paul.  Later, they traveled with Paul to Ephesus where they eventually settled.  Throughout their moves, their chief characteristics were an open home and open hearts.  They received the young preacher, Apollos, into their home to instruct him in the faith.  They opened their Ephesian and Roman homes to church meetings.  Paul mentioned that they saved his life, risking their own necks for him.   What can we learn from them?  Hospitality, helping fellow believers in ministry, and a willingness to sacrifice ourselves for the sake of other believers.

Next in the list is Epaenetus, a courageous new convert.  He was probably a member of the household of Stephanas whose house is said to have been the first fruits of Achaia (1 Cor. 16:15).  Imagine the real courage it would have taken to become the first convert to Christ in the middle of a pagan culture!  Think about the changed life and the surrendering of himself to Jesus.  Imagine the attitudes and reactions of his loved ones, friends, and neighbors – ridicule, misunderstandings, questioning, mocking, withdrawal, isolation.  From Epaenetus we can learn true courage.

Then there was Mary, a lady who labored much.  Notice that Mary was a member of the Roman church and Paul had yet to go to Rome at the time of this letter writing.  Therefore, Mary must have ministered to him elsewhere.  In fact she labored so much for Paul and his fellow workers that he commends here for this service.  We have no idea exactly how she served, but we can learn the value of diligent service from Mary.

Andronicus and Junia were early converts who were imprisoned with Paul.  They were perhaps man and wife as Junia is a woman’s name.  The things we know about them are interesting.  We know that they were related to Paul in some way and were imprisoned with him at some point in his ministry.  They were known and highly esteemed by the apostles of Christ and they were believers before Paul, becoming believers before Stephen’s martyrdom (Acts 7:54-60).  They were well known for their willingness to stand up for Christ and to bear testimony for Him, even if it meant imprisonment or death.  May we also be so willing.

Amplias simply has the testimony of being beloved by a minister of the Gospel.  This indicates that he was a man of remarkable love, a man who greatly loved others and was greatly loved by others.  “By this shall all men know ye are my disciples, if ye have love one for another.”  John 13:35

Urbanus was a helper, that is, a fellow worker in the ministry.  There are three things here I find noteworthy.  He was a man who worked side by side with Paul.  He was a man of unusual diligence and he was a man of unusual faithfulness who was loyal to Christ wherever he travelled.  He faithfully witnessed and served wherever he travelled.

Stachys is also called my beloved by Paul.  He was a believer who was characterized by the greatest of all traits – love.  Just imagine the strength of a man whose dominant feature is love!  Apelles was a believer who had been tried and found faithful.  Apparently, he had faced some great trial and had stood up against it, proving his loyalty beyond question.  As far as I know, he was a lay believer yet he stood fast against suffering, trusting the presence of God’s Spirit to carry him through the trial.  Personally, I love the term “approved in Christ.”  What an endorsement!!!

Those who were of the household of Aristobulus were slaves who were owned by Aristobulus, Herod the Great’s grandson.  From this I learn that, no matter where we are, no matter our station in life, Christ loves us.   Herodian was another relative of Paul (there’s no reason for translating suggene as countryman instead of relative).  This reminds me to be faithful to witness to my family.

Paul then greets the believers in the household of Narcissus.  Narcissus was probably the wealthy secretary to the Emperor Claudius and determined the appointments of the Emperor and amassed a great fortune from kickbacks (William Barclay).  It’s important here to note that these believers were so faithful in Christ that they stood up for Him even in this kind of a home environment.  One of the greatest problems believers face is living with unbelievers.  Yet, these slaves in this very prominent household were able to maintain their faithfulness to Christ.  We are called to follow Christ, even if, as the hymn says, none go with me.

Tryphena and Tryphosa were two women who labored much in the Lord.  The name Tryphena means dainty and the name Tryphosa means delicate.  The word labored here means working to the point of exhaustion, toiling to the point of collapse.  These two dainty, delicate women worked like horses for the Lord and His church.  Persis was a beloved woman who also worked hard in the Lord.  She was a woman of such love and ministry that others looked on her as the “beloved Persis.”  She labored every which way she was able.

Rufus, chosen in the Lord, was a saintly man.   Note the word chosen.  Paul does not say chosen by the Lord but chosen in the Lord.  The emphasis here is not election (no matter our belief in this area). The emphasis is on a tenderness, a preciousness, and a warmth – an intimate relationship between the Lord and Rufus.  He was set apart and had an intimate relationship with Christ.  Rufus was probably the son of Simon the Cyrenian who carried the cross for Jesus (Mark 15:21).  What an impact this must have had on his life – watching his father carry the cross of our Lord!  We can learn to be set apart for Christ – to remember the impact of the crucifixion and how it forever changed us.

Rufus’s mother is mentioned next and Paul calls her his mother in the Lord.  On several occasions, she cared for Paul as a mother cares for her own son.  When Paul needed a mother nearby, he knew he could count on her.  Do we treat fellow believers like family?  Can they count on us in times of need?

Several more servants of the Lord are named about whom we know little.  Then Paul exhorts us to greet each other in the same manner as these saints, reminding us that we are also servants and fellow workers in the Lord.  It’s a good reminder to remain faithful to the Lord and to the fellowship of His people.

“And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”  Hebrews 10:24-25