Paul’s Afflictions
“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed” (2 Corinthians 4:7-9 NKJV).
When you think about the Apostle Paul, what do you think of? Sure, many things probably come to mind, but one word that comes to mind could be strong. You see, Paul underwent a lot of trials. In fact, Paul listed some of them in 2 Corinthians.
“From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of water, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren” (2 Corinthians 11:24-26 NKJV).
Have many Christians today really be as hard pressed as Paul was? Have many Christians today really been crushed like Paul was? Have many Christians today been struck down as Paul was? The answer to that question is likely no. However, despite going through these horrible things, Paul still said “we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NKJV).
As I write this short encouragement, I cannot help but realize the insignficance of many of my problems. At times we may become complacent with our lives and think we have it bad. But are we being beaten and stoned like Paul was? Yet Paul still counts it joy, even calling his trials a “light affliction” because whatever he had to go through was worth it for the “eternal weight of glory.”
When we face problems in our lives, when we want to be complacent, let us look to the example of Paul and “not lose heart.”
“For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:18b).
