It was my big announcement "God is sending me into full-time ministry." I expected everyone to shower me with praise.

But boy was I ever wrong. Other than my family and a few friends, most people weren't thrilled at all.

Discouragement hit me hard.

Maybe you've been discouraged when you've told someone you're a follower of Christ. If so, let me offer you hope from John's first letter.

"See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him"

Let this hope be your encouragement to keep living out by faith who you are in Christ.

One day, when Christ appears, the world will take notice.