"Not immediately available" - take time to heal first.

When an opponent who practices foul play injures a professional athlete, the recipient of the injury must remove his activities for healing purposes before returning to the field. And pending on the severity of the injury, one can be out of the game for many months. Of course, the heart of passion within the player wants to return immediately and keep fighting for his team, but such could further disable his faculties, resulting in permanent removal. So the sportsman learns humble patience, allowing the body to heal into full strength slowly, sometimes even more robust. His loving medical and familial attention necessary indeed helps expedite the process. And once he can reinstall to the green, he's ready to win the championship with the wisdom his scars produced, mentally and physically.

Sometimes faithful Christians in the sward get injured, both within the fold and without. Diotrephes is a phycological deceiver and cunning wolf whose divisive ways are treacherous; he slanders as he breathes and has no remorse for the chaos his ambitions indulge. And so, some traumas from evil workers are grievous, deep sorrows filled with agony, taking many months (years?) to heal from the unjust attacks. Yet we can rest assured that the written Word comforts us back into total health if we allow ourselves to learn from His guidance and trust in His will, pray fervently, and be humble into production. Yet as much as we'd love to insert ourselves immediately, we first must restore the household from the despair inside. But once made well again, we reinstate our commitment to the trenches and remain victorious for Christ, winning souls for His kingdom and welcoming all who seek refuge from toxic characters. And therein we understand the wisdom of Paul when he said, "My circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel." (Phil. 1:12).

The faithful know our trials, discern the truth, and encourage us in such times of pain; we are not the only victims of Diotrephic manipulation, "knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brothers and sisters who are in the world." (1 Pt. 5:9).

Have heart, fellow saints; we may live in a corrupt generation that has fallen out of season, and its worldly ways crept into the church, but we are not alone without help to persevere. Seek the truth, don't mindlessly follow the masquerade, contemplate the account (2 Cor. 11:14). The faithful will persevere and await His mighty return (Phil. 3:20), being fruitful till His great Day of appearing (Mt. 24:46).

Your servant,
SM