The Apostle Paul teaches that believers can endure suffering because God places the treasure of the gospel in weak “earthen vessels,” making His power—not ours—clearly seen. We learn in this episode that though Paul was pressed, perplexed, persecuted, and struck down, God never abandoned him, continually sustaining him through every hardship. By focusing on “things which are not seen,” rather than on temporary troubles, Paul saw his afflictions as “light” and “momentary,” knowing they produced an eternal weight of glory—a perspective that empowers believers to persevere with hope and purpose.