Here’s a little insight into the author of the letter to the Romans: He formed a plan to take the Christian faith to Spain, the farthest outpost of the Roman Empire, but on his way to executing this plan, he stopped in Jerusalem to deliver a gift of money to impoverished Jewish Christians. In the process of doing this good deed, he was ambushed and almost lynched by those who opposed his ministry. He was arrested and investigated by the authorities for causing a public disturbance. A trial ensued. Paul sought a change of venue and appealed to the Roman Emperor (Nero!). On his way to Rome, the ship he was travelling in was beset by a two weeklong tempest, finally sinking. Paul swam to a nearby island. As he was putting driftwood on a fire being built on the shore, he was bitten by a viper.
As far as we know, he never made it to Spain; his appeal to Nero ended in his death. But instead of letting a black cloud form over his head and moaning his way through snake bites, shipwrecks, angry mobs, and four years in jail, he stayed amazingly positive. He said, “We have been surrounded and battered by troubles, but we’re not demoralized; we’re not sure what to do, but we know that God knows what to do; we’ve been spiritually terrorized, but God hasn’t left our side; we’ve been thrown down, but we haven’t broken” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9,MSG).
Do you face frustrations? Me too. I’m an old man trying to learn how to use a computer to blog. But “God hasn’t left my side.” The man who wrote to the Romans was one tough, wise, faithful man. He is worth listening to. The same God who never left his side can come alongside of you and me.