Paul’s example of pressing on after devastating setbacks does the heart good
3 min read
When you encounter a series of setbacks or unexpected hardships in your faith journey (notice the when – not if), it can be very difficult to keep going, much less to keep moving with enthusiasm. These experiences can leave you in a state of disenchantment with people and frustration in your relationship with God.
Something that can really help in a moment like this is to consider the example of faithful role models. Whether it’s someone you are close to, or someone you’ve heard about, there’s nothing like a story of resilience to lift your spirits.
In 2 Corinthians 11, for example, the Apostle Paul listed some of the hard things he faced in his work as one of the first Christian missionaries:
“Five times I received from the Jews forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with a rod. Once I received a stoning. Three times I suffered shipwreck. A night and a day I spent adrift in the open sea.” 2 Corinthians 11:24-25
Quite a resume, huh?
Notice Paul’s mention of the time he was stoned. Mind you, there was no cannabis involved in this stoning. Paul was actually stoned with rocks. This was done by a group of people who mistakenly believed Paul was disrespecting God as he preached the Gospel. They didn’t believe that Jesus was actually the Messiah or the Son of God, so they treated Paul as if he were a blasphemer.
The scene is described in Acts 14:19-20:
Then some Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowds to their side. They stoned Paul and dragged him out of town, thinking he was dead.
After the stoning, it looked as though Paul had died from his injuries…appearing to be a lifeless corpse. As far as they knew, the man talking about salvation through Jesus was history.
But notice what happened next:
But as the believers gathered around him, he got up and went back into the town...
Turns out, Paul was not dead. Bloodied, bruised, and unconscious maybe, but not dead.
Friend, if you find yourself in a difficult section of your faith journey, consider what you just read. Think about God giving Paul the grace and strength to get back up after what he went through, after the beatdown he had sustained.
By the power of the Spirit, Paul’s life and his ministry continued. This is resilience.
And here’s the application. The same God that helped Paul is also present to help us get back up after being pelted by difficult circumstances of all kinds. Though it often feels like we are finished and without hope, the example of Paul beautifully illustrates that being down doesn’t mean that you’re out.
Like Paul, could it be that one of the best things that could ever be said about us is that we kept getting up? In my opinion, it’s the ultimate compliment.
Believer, as you face your own adversities and setbacks in the journey of faith today, may God give you the grace to get back up.
Metaphorical speaking, how surprised those who left you for dead will be when they see you walking back into town.
It’s a new day with God. Run with it.
