Overcoming challenges with Paul’s strength and attitude

Developing Paul's strength and attitude is a lifelong journey. It is not something that we will achieve overnight. However, if we are willing to put in the effort, we can learn to face our challenges with courage and hope.

By Tosin 'Badeniyi, PhD
- August 6, 2023

Share this Article

While Paul was in prison, he never complained, fell into depression, or asked “Why me?” Instead, he made the most of his situation, seeking ways to use every opportunity to serve God and share Him with others. Perhaps he was reflecting on how he handled his challenges when he was inspired to write, “In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

How can we develop Paul’s strength and attitude, especially when we are faced with challenges that discourage us? Here are a few suggestions:

Focus on the positive. It’s easy to get caught up in the negative aspects of our challenges, but Paul chose to focus on the positive. He knew that God was with him, even in prison, and that He was using his situation for His purposes.
Pray and ask for God’s help. Paul was a man of prayer, and he knew that God could give him the strength and endurance he needed to face his challenges. When we are facing difficult times, we can pray and ask God for His help. He will never let us down.
Serve others. Paul found that serving others helped him to focus on something other than his own problems. When we serve others, we are putting our own needs aside and putting the needs of others first. This can help us to find joy and purpose in our lives, even in the midst of difficulty.
Give thanks. Paul knew that giving thanks was a key to living a joyful and victorious life. Even when he was in prison, he found things to be thankful for. When we give thanks, we are acknowledging that God is good and that He is in control. This can help us to maintain a positive attitude, even in the midst of challenges.

In addition to the suggestions above, here are a few other things we can do to develop Paul’s strength and attitude:

Read the Bible and learn about Paul’s life and ministry. This will help us to see how he faced challenges and overcame them.
Spend time with other believers who are strong in their faith. This can help us to stay motivated and encouraged.
Get involved in ministry or service. This can help us to focus on others and forget about our own problems.
Practice gratitude on a daily basis. This can help us to develop a positive outlook on life.

Developing Paul’s strength and attitude is a lifelong journey. It is not something that we will achieve overnight. However, if we are willing to put in the effort, we can learn to face our challenges with courage and hope.

Tosin 'Badeniyi, PhD

Tosin ‘Badeniyi, a Professor at the Department of Biotechnology and Food Science at Durban University of Technology, South Africa, holds a doctoral degree in Food Science from University of Pretoria South Africa. Since 2001, he has conducted research and lectured internationally in the area of food quality and safety. He is the editor of Food Science and Technology: Trends and Future Prospects and has published numerous scientific publications as well as four inspirational books.