The Sovereign Will of God

 But whatever anyone else dares to boast of—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast of that. 

22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they offspring of Abraham? So am I. 

23 Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings,and often near death. 24 Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. 

25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; 

26 on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; 

27 in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. 

28 And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.

29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant?

30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.

2Corinthians 11

We cannot set aside the sovereignty and magnitude of Almighty God: but when we think that we can decree and declare every danger, toil and snare into oblivion, is this not exactly what we are doing? When we think we can make every bad thing disappear through our words and declarations, are we not making it all about us and what we can do, rather than what the Lord has and will do? 

If our words truly do hold such power, surely Paul could have rebuked the storm and saved the ship in Acts 27.; but he did not: because he knew too well that his life no longer belonged to him: It belonged to Christ; and the higher purposes of the Lord through this trial, which would be revealed in Acts ch.28.

We are not Jesus Christ - we have been bought by him - but we are NOT him…

but rather Peter the Apostle  says: 

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.

But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 

Read 1Peter 4

And also

6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by pvarious trials, 

7 so that qthe tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes rthough it is tested by sfire—may be found to result in tpraise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

1Peter 1