A common misconception is that hardship is evidence of sinful behavior and punishment from God. Yet the hardships the Apostle Paul faced while serving God should prompt us to re-examine that belief. Were his hardships the result of wrongdoing?
The Apostle Paul became a follower of Jesus Christ while on a mission to bring believers back to Jerusalem in chains. After he began preaching the gospel, he too experienced hardship. In Damascus, his preaching met with opposition: “some of the Jews plotted together to kill him” (Acts 9:23 NLT). To keep him safe, other believers helped him escape: “So during the night, some of the other believers[a] lowered him in a large basket through an opening in the city wall” (Acts 9:25 NLT). Today, many of us may find it difficult to imagine facing such danger. Yet in some places, those who preach the gospel still face similar hardships.
Paul recounts his hardships in 2 Corinthians 11:24–25: “Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. 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.” How many of us would continue on our faith journey after such experiences? Yet these were only some of the hardships Paul endured. Despite the dangers he faced, he continued doing what God had called him to do. Near the end of his life, he looked back with confidence: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful” (2 Timothy 4:7). Paul’s example reminds us that challenges need not derail our purpose; they can deepen our commitment to fulfilling it.
Thought for Today: Friend, there is purpose your struggle.
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Have a blessed day and walk in faith and victory.
