Things Don’t Always Go Our Way

It is very tempting to complain as things don’t go “our way”.  Not enough friends, annoying friends, a bad day at work, losing a job, horrible traffic, having to wait, decisions by church leadership, and expensive home repairs are just a handful of examples of difficult situations in life.

Paul, of the New Testament, did not always have things go “his way”. Actually, he went through situations God has not required most of us to endure.

2 Corinthians 11:23-27: Are they ministers of Christ?—I speak as a fool—I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.

Responding in Difficult situations

Colossians 1:24-25: I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God,

As recorded in the verses above, Paul went through extremely difficult situations (trials) in his life. Yet, he did not complain. He rejoiced, served Jesus, preached the Gospel and wrote most of the New Testament.

What would Paul’s life have been like if he reacted by complaining? How would people around Paul be affect if he reacted with anger or blamed God, etc.? If I had to guess, I think Paul would have been miserable had he only viewed his life through mans perspective.

Confession

After reading the verses above, I have considered Paul’s reactions to his difficult situations. This makes me feel guilty considering how I react to many of my difficult situations.

Paul is just one example, of many men of faith, that can be used from the Bible. Perhaps you don’t have to go to the Bible for more examples? Maybe your life is already a biblical example of how to respond in difficult situations?

We hope you search our Free Bible Studies from Christian Fellowshipping for more encouraging ways to fellowship with God and other believes.

References:
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.