We know that Paul went through a lot of suffering.

But He still chose joy. He still focused on Jesus.

I know many of you are going through valleys right now, hard times, and long days. All of that is true and needs to be acknowledged, but we need to remember that there is a “but” or a “yet” in our lives. Look at what Paul says even though he had been shipwrecked, beaten, and imprisoned.

2 Corinthians 4:6-10

^“6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

⁷ But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

⁸ We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;

⁹ Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;

¹⁰ Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.”

God has shined in our hearts. This is a treasure in our old bodies here. It is His power in us, not ours. Do you see it? Paul was troubled all around him, but he was not distressed. He was perplexed, but not in despair. Persecuted, but he knew he wasn’t forsaken. He was cast down, but not destroyed, all because of Jesus.

It reminds me of the song, “Press On.” Let’s remember our “yet” today and press on.