Toughen Up!

Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.
1 Corinthians 16:13

Where did we get the idea that everybody has to like us? Certainly not from God's Word. Jesus said His blessings were reserved for the"persecuted and reviled" (See Matthew 5:10-11). If you're thin-skinned you'll have a rough time because you'll be an easy target for the enemy.Endurance is the secret, not popularity.
Paul endured desertion by his friends, ugly letters from the Corinthians, disappointment with the Galatians, mistreatment in Philippi, mocking in Athens, plus imprisonment and beheading in Rome. So what are you complaining about? In the Book of Corinthians he writes 4 things you need to pay careful attention to:

(1) Be on the alert! The enemy is out to get you. What's he after? The deposit of God that is inside you. You are a seed capable of producing a harvest for God on this earth, so protect yourself!

(2) Stand firm in the faith! You can't stand on your circumstances or the opinions of others because those things constantly change. No, you can stand only on the Word of God. Are you?

(3) Act like men! Being childish won't cut it when the battle rages. It's time to grow up. If you're still making the same mistakes 25 years later, you're not learning enough.

(4) Be strong! Weakness is an invitation to your enemy. It always precedes surrender,and quitting is not an option for you! God told His people that the Promised Land was theirs, but they had to fight for it.

And He's saying the same to you today!