An assurance from God can help us overcome discouragement.
After a troubling interaction with his fellow Jews at the synagogue in Corinth, the apostle Paul was discouraged. He told them he wasn’t going to talk with them about Jesus any more. If they didn’t want to listen, he would take his message to the Gentiles. (See Acts 18:5-6.)
But God helped Paul recognize that things weren’t as bad as they seemed. During the night, Paul had a vision in which the Lord gave him the following instruction:
Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace:
For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.
Acts 18:9-10
Paul stayed in Corinth for another 18 months, establishing the church and growing to love many people there. (See Acts 18:11, 1 Corinthians 1:1-9.)
Ammon and his brothers had a similar experience during their mission among the Lamanites. As they arrived in the land of Nephi and began their missionary service, the Lord gave them the following message by His Spirit:
Go forth among the Lamanites, thy brethren, and establish my word; yet ye shall be patient in long-suffering and afflictions, that ye may show forth good examples unto them in me, and I will make an instrument of thee in my hands unto the salvation of many souls.
Alma 17:11
Fourteen years later, Ammon marveled at the success they had experienced:
We have suffered all manner of afflictions, and all this, that perhaps we might be the means of saving some soul; and we supposed that our joy would be full if perhaps we could be the means of saving some.
Now behold, we can look forth and see the fruits of our labors; and are they few? I say unto you, Nay, they are many; yea, and we can witness of their sincerity, because of their love towards their brethren and also towards us.
Alma 26:30-31
In October, 1833, as Joseph Smith and Sydney Rigdon prayed in Perrysburg, New York, they received a similar assurance:
Behold, and lo, I have much people in this place, in the regions round about; and an effectual door shall be opened in the regions round about in this eastern land.
Therefore, I, the Lord, have suffered you to come unto this place; for thus it was expedient in me for the salvation of souls.
Therefore, verily I say unto you, lift up your voices unto this people; speak the thoughts that I shall put into your hearts, and you shall not be confounded before men;
Doctrine and Covenants 100:3-5
Today, I will remember that God knows the hearts of His children. I will trust that He has “much people” who are willing to accept His gospel and follow His guidance. I will take advantage of opportunities to share the gospel, trusting that some people will respond favorably.