For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, works for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. 2 Corinthians 4:17 (NKJV)
The Apostle Paul was a man who was thoroughly convinced of the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In fact, he kept sharing it despite being faced with opposition of almost every kind imaginable.
Individuals and even whole communities came against Paul. He was beaten with rods, hung upside down with the soles of his feet whipped, shipwrecked (more than once!), attacked by animals, imprisoned, and even stoned and left for dead! But there was a tenacious spirit in Paul that would not stop.
Despite heavy and continuous hardship, Paul carried on relentlessly, and because of that, the gospel began to spread like wildfire throughout the then-known world. Imagine how many people would have missed out on hearing about Jesus if Paul had just curled into the fetal position and given up when the going got tough?
It’s in the face of adversity where we need to make a decision. We can either shrink back and give in, or we can decide to take on a Paul-like attitude as we face the storm head-on and go through to the other side.
You see, Paul had an iron grip on the truth. The truth is the cause of Jesus on the inside of us is so big and so great it can’t be contained, and even in tough times, our lives serve a purpose infinitely bigger than just ourselves.
Hang onto your faith with courage and determination like Paul did. You can be sure that God will see you through, no matter what struggles you’re facing!