The New Testament speaks often and passionately of the privilege and the calling of involvement with people. Paul saw people as a gift from God. They can be tiresome, confusing and irritating. It is surprisingly easy to underestimate the difficulty of getting close enough to another person to be of real help. Problems can range from being stood up for a breakfast appointment three weeks in a row to seeing a new Christian sucked back into a former life of overt sin.
Problems go hand in hand with people.
A new Christian may still be involved in practices that make us feel awkward or even panicky. It is not our job to fix other people's problems, but to point people to the gospel and to the Father. This simple shift in perspective has helped many disciplers hang in there with people. Paul ministered broadly, yet his heart beat passionately for individuals. Note the number of people named by Paul in his letters.