But mankind is born headed for trouble, just as sparks soar skyward."

Human beings born by women are short-lived and full of trouble.

A righteous person will have many troubles, but the LORD will deliver him from them all.

How blessed is the man whom you instruct, LORD, whom you teach from your Law,

because the LORD corrects the person he loves, just as a father corrects the son he delights in.

For he does not deliberately hurt or grieve human beings.

Who will separate us from the Messiah's love? Can trouble, distress, persecution, hunger, nakedness, danger, or a violent death do this? As it is written, "For your sake we are being put to death all day long. We are thought of as sheep headed for slaughter." read more. In all these things we are triumphantly victorious due to the one who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor anything above, nor anything below, nor anything else in all creation can separate us from the love of God that is ours in union with the Messiah Jesus, our Lord.

That's why we are not discouraged. No, even if outwardly we are wearing out, inwardly we are being renewed each and every day. This light, temporary nature of our suffering is producing for us an everlasting weight of glory, far beyond any comparison, read more. because we do not look for things that can be seen but for things that cannot be seen. For things that can be seen are temporary, but things that cannot be seen are eternal.

To keep me from becoming conceited because of the exceptional nature of these revelations, a thorn was given to me and placed in my body. It was Satan's messenger to keep on tormenting me so that I would not become conceited. I pleaded with the Lord three times to take it away from me, read more. but he has told me, "My grace is all you need, because my power is perfected in weakness." Therefore, I will most happily boast about my weaknesses, so that the Messiah's power may rest on me. That is why I take such pleasure in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and difficulties for the Messiah's sake, for when I am weak, then I am strong.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you are involved in various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance.

How blessed is the man who endures temptation! When he has passed the test, he will receive the victor's crown of life that God has promised to those who keep on loving him.