Welcome to the In Touch podcast with Charles Stanley for Friday, August 15th.

The Apostle Paul faced countless obstacles in his ministry, persecution, hardships, even prison.

But through it all, he learned how to draw strength from God.

In today's episode, discover how his example can inspire you to find courage and stand

firm in the face of life's trials. When you face some difficulty, hardship, or trial, maybe some

crisis in your life, what is the first emotion that you feel? Is it fear or is it courage? And how is it that you and I can respond in a

courageous way every single time? Does that mean that you'll never have any fears and

doubts or frustrations? No. But there is a way that you and I can respond courageously.

We can respond in faith, no matter what the circumstance, no matter how

painful, no matter how difficult, no matter how embarrassing, there is a way to respond in a

courageous fashion. And the Apostle Paul gives us the key to that when he writes to Timothy in

2 Timothy, if you'll turn there turn there he says at my first defense

no one supported me but all deserted me may it not be counted against them but the

Lord stood with me and strengthened me in order that through me the proclamation

might be fully accomplished and that all the Gentiles may hear,

and I was delivered out of the lion's mouth, the Lord will deliver me from every evil deed,

and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom, to him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

What I'd like to do is to give you out of this passage of scripture four simple points.

And I want to encourage you to write them down because I can assure you you're going to need them.

I can assure you that there'll be enough trials, difficult, their hardship, pain, suffering,

crisis in your life that you'll wish you remember this very, very simple but profound truth in this particular passage.

Listen to what Paul says, beginning now in verse 16.

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