2 Corinthians 6:4
“but in everything commending ourselves, as servants of God, in great endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses,”
What does 2 Corinthians 6:4 mean?
Paul is describing what it means to prove yourself trustworthy as someone serving God, and he does it by listing the hard things he endures rather than his accomplishments or credentials. He's saying that authenticity shows through perseverance in suffering, not through comfort or ease. When you stick with your faith and your calling through afflictions, hardships, and distresses, that's what actually demonstrates to others that you're serious about serving something greater than yourself. It's a counter-cultural message, especially for those of us taught that success means avoiding difficulty, but Paul suggests that endurance through pain is its own kind of credibility.