Bumps in Life

A few of us humans encounter bumps and troubles in life.  I think only about 99.9999 percent of humans experience bumps. Consider the Apostle Paul who encountered a few bumps in his life and ministry; look at Second Corinthians chapter one and chapter four.

Dead Sea Israel from the top of Masada

The Dead Sea from the top of Masada, Israel

2 Cor 1:8 For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: 9 But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:

2 Cor 4:7  But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. 8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;

Masada Israel

Masada Israel

Notice the two phrases in blue above. Paul trusted in God, not himself. Paul trusted in God’s power, not his strength.