Day 3

If there is any biblical character who can boast of suffering, it most certainly is the Apostle Paul. He endured numerous floggings, beatings, and stonings. He even drifted into the open sea and experienced sleeplessness, nakedness, hunger, thirst, cold, and numerous dangers! And yet, he was not overcome by these issues; he thought of them as temporary, even light challenges.

Through all that Paul endured, his focus steadfastly remained on his Father. Jesus’ Father. Our Father who art in heaven.

Our Father—who sent us His Son as a baby, who grew up to manhood and willingly took on the sin of the world—is the God of all comfort. This was the root of Paul’s confidence: that his sin, and our sin, has been fully paid for.

As Jesus suffered, Paul suffered. We, too, will experience pain and suffering from time to time, some of us more than others. Yet, the suffering we endure pales in comparison to the joy, peace, and victory that is coming as a reward for our faithfulness to our kind Father, our King Jesus. In that hope, we can find real comfort today in the midst of anything we may endure.

Action Step: Pause for a moment and reflect on how Jesus’ coming to this earth changed your life for eternity. Meditate on today’s Scriptures, allowing the Holy Spirit to give you a fresh perspective on any challenge you may be facing.