But believers are called to follow Christ’s example of endurance through hardship. Giving up just doesn’t fit who we are in Christ. Despite mistreatment, rejection,

conflict, discouragement, loneliness, grief, illness the Lord wants us to choose to persevere until He redirects us. 

 

The apostle Paul is a wonderful example of a man who refused to give up. Even at the end of his life, he was still doing what God wanted him to do.

 

The apostle Paul had the courage to keep going

despite all the trouble he faced.

Paul demonstrated such courage to persevere because he had:

 

1. An awareness that God was with him

In 2 Corinthians 11:22-28, Paul described some of the persecutions, hardships, and pressures he endured—imprisonments, beatings, shipwreck, various dangers, sleepless nights, hunger, thirst, and

exposure to the elements—yet through them all he knew the Lord was with him. It’s easy to believe God is with us when everything’s fine, but when times are tough, we must cling to this truth so we won’t become discouraged and give up. Too often people

quit right before the Lord opens an opportunity, gives a victory, or changes a situation.

 

2.The experience of the Lord’s strength was within him.

Because Paul depended on the power of almighty God, he could say, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:13). Today that same divine energy is within every believer through the presence of the Holy Spirit. This means we each have within us the strength to do the will of God.

We may not feel it, but it’s there.

 However, having God’s power doesn’t exempt us from trouble. The only way we’ll have the courage to be strong and carry on is to be in the Word of God. If we  pray to be strengthened with His power

(Eph. 3:16), we put on the full armor of God (Eph. 6:11), and believe that God causes all things to work together for our good (Rom. 8:28), then we can face whatever is ahead.

 

3.The assurance of being in God’s will.

Knowing that he was accomplishing what the Lord had called him to do gave Paul the determination to keep going despite hardship and persecution. God had sent

him to preach the gospel and reach the Gentiles with the message of salvation in Christ, and he was determined to fight the good fight, finish the course,

and keep the faith (2 Tim. 4:7). If we’re going to persist through hard times of doing God’s will, we must trust that He will guide us each step of the way (Ps. 32:8).

 

4.The overflowing joy of Christ

Even a Roman jail could not steal Paul’s joy. Since he was fulfilling God’s purposes, he could rejoice. 

 

Keep on going through your storms challenges , and the fears we face.

Without fear, there would be no courage. Courage kicks in when we take note of our fears, but don't let them shape our lives. To be courageous is not to be fearless, but to refuse to surrender to fear: something we need to learn in peace, as well as in war.

 

How we react and respond to the trials of life is a choice we make. Knowing these great promises of God, how will you face the difficulties ahead - with fear, hopelessness, rebellion or courage?

 

While in a Roman prison, he wrote a letter to a young pastor named Timothy, challenging him to follow his example and keep preaching the Word even when the

people would eventually refuse to listen 

(And that challenge is on us as well)

 

Paul writes in

(2 Tim. 4:1-8).

1.In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 

2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 

3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 

5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.

6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. 

7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

 

From Pauls life, we can see how we, too, can gain strength and motivation by acknowledging:

- The awareness of God’s presence with us
- The experience of God’s strength within us
- The assurance of the Lord’s will for us
- The overflowing joy that fills us 
- The life-changing lessons God teaches us
- The fruit God’s truth produces through us
- The reward God has promised us
- The vision of the cross always before us
- Our love and devotion to Jesus Christ