Not many people would agree with those words written by the great Apostle Paul in his letter to the early Christians in Rome. Rather than rejoicing in the midst of tribulation, aren’t we more apt to feel afraid or burdened, or wonder, “Why me? What did I do to bring this on?”
Yet, after facing twenty years of trials beyond what most people could endure, Paul proclaimed triumphantly: “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed. . . . For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (II Corinthians 4:8, 9, 17).
Considering the stoning, beatings, imprisonments, and trials Paul endured as he carried out his Christ-appointed mission to spread the Christian message, how did he come to such a positive outlook?
