STAYING STRONG IN TOUGH TIMES!

READING ASSIGNMENT:  ISAIAH 17 - 20

Rather than being shielded from hardship and suffering, it was a way of life for this faithful Apostle. The Lord told him at the beginning that he would suffer but he was not daunted in his determination to press forward in his gospel labors.

He wrote, “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken, cast down, but not destroyed” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9). Although he was troubled, perplexed, persecuted and even cast down, he was not destroyed.

He had learned that God’s strength is made perfect in weakness.

He learned to live by faith and to look on to the glory that was to come. Even though his suffering was great, he would write: “Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us as far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.”

In that same Corinthian epistle he later became even more explicit about those sufferings:

“Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep’ In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches” (2 Corinthians 11:23-29).

When we read what this man endured we are amazed that he could physically survive the sufferings, much less still effectively labor in God’s kingdom. It is evident that God’s grace and power was upon him. And what a testimony to see that with all of his suffering he was not a complainer. In fact he rejoiced in his trials and gloried in tribulation. 

How could he do it? He recognized God’s hand. He knew God is on the throne, God is at work accomplishing His purposes, and His grace is sufficient for whatever difficulty might be faced.

FAITH CONFESSION:  Father I will let nothing separate me from trusting you.  I choose to make each stumbling block a stepping stone and go higher in life and glorify You each day, in Jesus' name, Amen!