THE REALITY OF CHRISTIAN PAIN
Paul had a thorn in the flesh for which he besought the Lord for deliverance. But he got the No answer: "My grace is sufficient for you."
Then also consider 2 Corinthians on pain:
I more; in
labors more abundantly, in
more abundantly, in
stripes above measure, in
deaths oft. 24 Of the Jews
five times received I
forty stripes save one. 25
Thrice was I
beaten with rods,
once was I
stoned, thrice
I suffered
shipwreck, a night and a day have
I been
in the deep; 26 in
journeyings often, in
[But when they persecute you in this city, flee into the next]
perils of rivers, in
perils of robbers, in
perils from my countrymen, in
perils from the Gentiles, in
perils in the city, in
perils in the wilderness, in
perils in the sea, in
perils among false brethren; 27 in
labor and travail, in
[like a woman giving birth]
watchings often, in
[without sleep]
hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in
[no food often!]
cold and
nakedness.
28 Besides those things that are without, there is that which presseth upon me daily,
anxiety
for all the churches.
- 2 corinthians
It may be observed how it was not just beaten once.
five times received I
forty stripes save one. 25
Thrice was I
beaten with rods,
once was I
stoned,
[yeah, only once stoned]