I love Paul, he is such an inspiration to me. Here is one of my favorite scriptures: Romans 5:1-5

1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

Life can get us down if we let it. It can beat at us until we can barely stand. There was an incident in Paul's ministry when he was stoned near to death, in fact the people who had stoned him thought he was dead and threw him out of the city. His friends picked him up and took him in and ministered to him. The next day he got up and went back to work. Incredible man. So when he talks about tribulations, he knows about tribulations. That's the thing though, we can take the bad and let it make us good, or we can take it and let it make us twisted and evil. The choice is ours. That is the secret to life ... We Choose.