‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬If you are looking for someone with a thick skin in the Bible, Apostle Paul sticks out. Anyone who could give thanks and sing praises to God from within prison walls must have a thick skin indeed. He himself captures his ordeals thus: “But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings; by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love, by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.” 2 Corinthians‬ 6‬:4‬-10‬ NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

“Those who think that following Christ is a piece of cake will soon be overthrown in their faith when trial comes.”

How did he maintain such positive attitude in the face of all odds? He learned of the cost of discipleship early enough. From the word “go”, he was made to know how much price he would pay for the gospel. For him, all the rough terrains he had to travel in, and the ill treatment in the hand of Roman authorities were part of the deal. The problem with many believers today is that we count as strange anything that lays stress on us in the course of serving God. This is a foundational problem. Few congregations extend their foundational courses for new believers to areas of discipline and suffering for the faith. The first persecution that shows up then brings shock. Those who think that following Christ is a piece of cake will soon be overthrown in their faith when trial comes.