Meet A Man Who Smiled In Spite Of.

I have … been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. II Corinthians 11:23-28

Paul went through all before he was arrested and had to spend two years chained to a Roman soldier (ref. Acts 28:30). In all this, not once did he ever grumble or throw a fit. On the contrary, Paul saw all his circumstances an opportunity to make Christ known as he made the best of his situation.

I don't know about you, but I can complain because the clock went off too early and I had to get up.

What did Paul have that we don't? Not a thing. We have access to everything – even more because we have his example – he had access to. It was Paul's attitude that made the difference for him. He truly lived above his circumstances and not under them.

Let's try it. What can it hurt? When we are faced with something that sparks that fuel inside of us to blow a gasket or heave that heavy sigh or crawl the person in front of us; try remembering what Paul did. Take a deep breath, smile and tell ourselves, we are not defined by this circumstance, we are above it. Better yet; remember what Christ did. Phillipians 1:6 tells us "being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." See we are going to make it after all!