Paul, part 2

Picking up where we left off, Paul has his eyesight restored and his live turned around. It’s not his anymore. He’s surrendered it completely. This is when the trouble starts, right after everything finally seems okay. After hanging out with the disciples in Damascus, Paul starts preaching. Now, picture this: A guy who was supposed to be dragging you prison is suddenly proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ. What do you do? You get suspicious. And eventually it boils over as suspicion generally does. Ultimately the Jews of Damascus plot to assassinate Paul. But God wasn’t ready for him to die. Paul escaped over the wall by being lowered down in a basket and headed to Jerusalem. But the disciples there didn’t trust him either. All but Barnabas. He defended Paul and in the end, Paul was accepted into their company. However, there was another plot to kill him. Paul escaped once again and headed back to Tarsus, his home town, where he laid low for a little bit (Acts 9).

Long story short, Paul was supposed to be dead. But he wasn’t. God still had plans for him. The best part? Paul still trusted God. His new faith was strong, even under threat of death. Nothing would stop him and he proved that over and over.

While preaching in Antioch, he was forced to leave (Acts 13). In Iconium, he had to either leave or stay and be beaten (Acts 14). He and Barnabas, once again in Antioch, had a bad fight and went their separate ways (Acts 15). After banishing a demon, Paul was beat up multiple times and thrown in jail (Acts 16). In Thessalonica and Berea, Paul escaped before he could once more be attacked (Acts 17). And that’s only the beginning.

Even though he suffered so much, Paul still believed. He still preached to the people. While in prison, he still encouraged his friends. In Philippians, he talks about surrendering his life. He lived as an example of that, among other things. His faith was the greatest out of many others I’ve read about. After becoming a bond servant for God, basically everything Paul faced was hard. Yet he never ever doubted God for a second. He never stopped trusting in His plan.

I don’t know what you’ve been through, what you’re dealing with. All I can tell you is that there is a reason for the pain, the lows, everything. God has it all planned out and in the end, it’ll all work out. You’ll come out stronger and wiser and more beautiful than you ever could’ve imagined. All you have to do is trust God to carry you through, trust that He holds the universe and He’s never going to leave you.

There is method to madness. There is beauty from pain, hope in darkness. There’s a reason why nothing seems to go right. And sometimes it’s okay to cry, and scream. Just don’t stay there. Trust in something greater than yourself.

Now Paul, well, he was supposedly beheaded. I know that’s no encouragement but look at his life. Look at what he did. He lived with such abandonment for God and brought glory to His name. He encouraged people and brought hope to people who didn’t have any.

So live like Paul. Live as an example to others. Let the light you have inside of shine and let the world know you are loved. Even if you aren’t going through the best of times, show the world that there is hope. Kick the enemy in face and let yourself go. You have the power of God on your side and that is the best thing anyone can have to whatever end.