Profundities of The Apostle Paul

2 Corinthians 2:14 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

Why am I going through this? What did I do to deserve this? Have you ever heard those questions? Sometimes one may think they are the only one going through something difficult. Yet, we know that each person has their "difficult days" and "dark night of the soul."

Reading about the life and ministry of the Apostle Paul could make one cringe if one had to go through what he did. He says, "Are they ministers of Christ? I speak as a fool I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. 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 wilderness, 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. . ." 2 Cor. 11:23-27 Of course, he was an exceptional minister that God enabled with abundant grace, but sometimes we faint at much less than what he went through.

If we can view our tests as something that God uses to help us become stronger and also to be able to minister to others, we surely will receive the grace to endure. What a difference it makes when we put things in perspective. . . . "For consider him (Jesus) that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds." Hebrews 12:3