Apostle Paul, God’s chosen instrument to carry Jesus’ name before the Gentiles and before the people of Israel (Acts 9:15), did not live a life that some Christians today would define as “the blessed life” and “the abundant life”. While in the Roman province of Asia, which included the cities of Ephesus, Philadelphia, Colosse, Troas, and others, the apostle suffered hardships and felt the sentence of death in his heart. The great pressure was far beyond his ability to endure. He despaired even of life. Apostle Paul drank the cup of suffering that Jesus handed to him.
Paul received his suffering with mature faith. “This happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raised the dead.” He felt dead. He experienced, therefore, a sort of resurrection. God delivered Paul from such a deadly peril. We will drink the cup of suffering and death with Jesus. God, whom we have set our hope, will deliver us too.
When suffering comes, we should ask others to pray for God to deliver (11). I know many who do not want others to know when they suffer. They do not want others to know they are weak. So they do not ask others to pray. If they do not know, they will not pray, and they will not give thanks for the gracious favor granted us in answer to their prayers. What a shame that pride robs others of this gift.
