You and I think that WE have problems.

May 24, 2025

I did a little research to see what I could find regarding some of the issues Paul had after his conversion. Goodness. 

• He was let down in a basket over the Damascus city wall to escape the riotous mob. Acts 9:23-25
• He fled from Pisidian Antioch. Acts 13:50
• He fled from Thessalonika. Acts 17:5-10
• They ran him out of Berea. Acts 17:13-14
• He was slapped in the mouth before the High Priest. Acts 23:2
• He was arrested at least seven times. Acts 16:16-24, II Timothy 3:12, I Peter 4:16 etc 
• During one imprisonment while being transported from one place to another, he was shipwrecked. The guards came very close to killing all of the prisoners so that they could not escape. Acts 27:42
• Three times he was beaten with rods. II Corinthians 11:25
• Five times he was whipped to within an inch of his life. II Corinthians 11:24
• He was stoned twice and left for dead. Acts 14:2, 5, 19

But even during all these hardships, Paul continued to praise the Lord and to write letters to many of the region’s churches. 

I’ve heard it said that “when the going gets tough, the tough get going.” My personal favorite is that “when the going gets tough, the tough — go shopping!” Regardless, the reality for many of us is that when we get knocked down, we curl up in a ball and complain. 

Paul didn’t give in or give up. He took advantage of every situation to tell people — jailers, prisoners, religious leaders — about his Savior. What about us? 

LORD, Thank you for Paul’s example to us. May we be willing to tell others about you no matter what our circumstances.