The apostle Paul faced trials and persecution as a result of serving the Lord. Some of this was likely the fruit of the persecution he bestowed upon others before his conversion (Acts 8:1,4; 9:16). Other persecution was the fruit of the good fight of faith he fought (2 Tim. 4:7).

Whether for wrongdoing (1 Pet. 2:19-20a) or for righteousness sake (1 Pet. 2:20b-21), this persecution clearly began to weigh on him. At one point, the Lord sought fit to encourage him in the face of this persecution (Acts 18:9-10). Consider the persecution he suffered as a testimony of His ministry (2 Cor. 11:22-28).

Some of Paul’s most encouraging and hopeful words regarding his suffering spur us to realize the true value of suffering. Paul wrote, “Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Cor. 4:16-18).

The light affliction we suffer here—even persecution—has a way of strengthening our appetite for the hereafter! Paul’s suffering was endured with his eyes on heaven!

He was persuaded that God was able to keep his faith until that day (2 Tim. 1:12). He was hard-pressed between his labors here and his desire for eternity (Phil. 1:23). Paul, like many others, gladly suffered his way into eternity (Phil. 3:7-10; Col. 1:24; 1 Tim. 4:8-10; 2 Tim. 2:8-10; 3:12)!

When we suffer in this life, do we realize that these things should make us long less for the things of this earth and more for the blessing of heaven?