2022_09_16 Insight Post- Emma Keeton
This week’s reading- 2 Corinthians 5-6
It is vital as Christians to shift our perspective when we go through trials. In 2 Corinthians 6:3-10, Paul gives a summary of the hardships he has lived through as an apostle of Christ.
“…in troubles, hardships and distresses, in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger, in purity, understanding, patience, and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and the left; through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing and yet possessing everything.” 2 Corinthians 6:4b-10.
While Paul’s ministry resume would impress any prospective employer, Paul would not have been able to withstand these hardships without the workings of the Holy Spirit. Paul demonstrated a stability in his trials because he drew strength from the many faces of God. Beatings, imprisonments, hunger, dishonor, and sleepless nights were counteracted with sincere love, purity, understanding, patience, and kindness. The response to constant hardship Paul was able to give sounds a lot like the fruits of the Holy Spirit from Galatians 5. Paul was only able to ‘have nothing, and yet possess everything’ through God’s power.
I take comfort this week knowing that Paul’s response is possible for any of us as we face trials because it was not Paul who overcame; it was God. Paul’s part in the equation was to take God at his word. We don’t know what we will face in the future. That could elicit fear in us, or we could make a choice to trust our Heavenly Father to direct our path. It is possible for us to respond with love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, not from our own merit, but from what God can grow and produce in us.
May we aim to glorify God in all things today!
Emma Keeton
Prayer Team Lead