Think you have it tough?

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—besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches. – 2 Corinthians 11.23-28

The believers in Corinth were critical of Paul and his ways. Plus, they thought they had it bad with all of their troubles. 

Here we get a rare insight into the character of Paul. We get to see his humanness. I really like looking at Paul and his life. The people at Corinth were complaining about how bad they had it. So Paul had to defend himself against their charges - and he did. 

I'm not going to go back through the list. Take a minute or two and look back at what he had been through. 

Done? 

That's quite a list. Paul could certainly speak about trials with authority because he had been there, and been through more than virtually anyone could have. My family has been through some struggles. Sometimes they seem a bit like Paul's struggles - just building day after day and struggle after struggle. 

And yet somehow he found the strength to keep on going. He wouldn't quit on God and His work. 

But look at the last little phrase. He went through all that 'besides the the other daily things - his deep concern for the churches.' 

God could have just simply told us to deal with our trials, but he didn't do that. He gave us the example of how Paul had two sets of burdens. He had to deal with all of his own struggles and he had to deal with the well being of the churches he had a part in. 

God tells us to trust Him in struggles and he gives us examples of those who have done it. Praise Him that he loves us enough to illustrate the lessons He wants us to learn.