The Apostle Paul met great challenges too. But the Apostle Paul made a faith stand in the face of adversity. Look at Romans 8:37 NKJV, 37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. Paul said, “Yet in all these things, I am more than a conqueror! Someone said, “Yes, but Paul was a great apostle!” Nevertheless, Paul knew what it was to experience suffering and hardship. Let’s look at how bad it was for Paul. Look at 2 Corinthians 11:23-28 NLT, 23 Are they servants of Christ? I know I sound like a madman, but I have served him far more! I have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again. 24 Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. 26 I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not. 27 I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm. 28 Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches. Here Paul enumerated his hardships and toils, he didn’t deny the existence of his problems. But you see, it’s one thing when you have troubles, it’s another thing entirely when troubles have you! When you have a “Beat Up” attitude, troubles have you. But in the midst of troubles, you can take a lesson from Paul and be upbeat.
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