Trials and sufferings

The Apostle Paul talks about the troubles he was going through when he was ministering the gospel in Asia.  He describes his troubles as being burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that he despaired even of life. He said he had the sentence of death in his heart.  He also went on the declare that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead.  Paul went through these things understanding he was called to suffering for the sake of the gospel.  At times our own soul can tell us we are dead, its over, we are gripped with the fact that this is the end.  But somehow it isn't fact.  God comes through and delivers us. For his sake of course. His purpose. His will. His plan.  We are constantly learning to trust in God through various trials and tribulations. Constantly calling on his name to recieve help in our time of trouble. We are becoming as the word says "tablets of flesh".  That is our outward witness of Jesus in us to the world around us.  We don't always see that as we are trusting that we are showing the world that our suffiency in not from ourselves but it comes from God.  His Spirit in Us producing the fruit and life of Jesus.  2 Corinthians 2:14  Paul states "Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses (manifests) the fragrance of his knowledge in every place. When I read this scripture I think of the potpurri that is so sweet smelling yet it doesn't reach as far as under my nose as far as smelling unless it is heated up. Then it fills the whole house. Think of the what the fiery trials will do when the life you live in God is heated up. It will fill the whole area of your witness with the sweet smelling aroma of God. And we will have this treasure in this our earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power in us is not of us but of God. So lets just rejoice in tribulation and trials though it is hard we will do it knowing it will bring others to the knowledge of God. Praise his Name.