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Of all the ways that the apostle Paul has been described over the centuries, one word has stood the test of time: "confident." Some have called him brash, others abrupt, and still others aggressive, but underlying all of these is Paul’s unfailing confidence in the Lord and in his calling. Not only was Paul bold when it came to proclaiming the gospel, he also had great confidence in God’s love and in his care.
In his Letter to the Romans, Paul drew from his own experiences as a missionary when he asked, “Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” (Romans 8:35). To the Corinthians, he spoke more openly about his life when he explained how his reliance on God sustained him in every situation: “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9). To the Thessalonians, he summed up his philosophy by giving them the same advice that he had learned to take for himself: “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). It was this advice that kept his confidence strong and…
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