If you live very long, you are going to face some discouragement, it is a natural part of life. When you go to the Old Testament in the book of Joshua, you see that one of the primary things God told the next leader of the Israelites was to not be discouraged -- "be of good courage." Israel faced a great task, that of setting the promised land. God knew they would face adversity and wanted to encourage them, thus these words. In the modern church age God's message carries on to us: regardless of what darkness we see in the world, we must remember God is in control.