There are times in my life when I think I know to what Paul was referring in 7:5; being afflicted on every side. Paul was facing oppression in front of him, behind him, above him, below him, and each side of his work. But he was also facing persecution on the inside; the flesh at war with his spirit as he strived to walk with God’s Holy Spirit. There are times in life when I can’t escape the pressures of this world. But isn’t that part of what Jesus focused on in his prayer in John 17:15? Jesus prayed, “I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.” It is not that God will eliminate the opposition that we face but rather that he will enable us to endure and shine like the lights as he has made us. That we will be a reflection of the pillar of fire at night and the cloud of God’s presence by day. Our comfort in contentment will enable us to offer comfort over fear of the darkness and cooling of emotions under the heat of the day. Such victories will not be easy on our part, but because of God’s indwelling Spirit at work in our lives they will be possible.
This section took me about 11 minutes to read.
Stuart
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