St Patrick ~ In the Face of Opposition

Though he was persecuted, he was protected. 

Though he suffered, he trusted. 

Though Satan tried to quench him, Christ raised him up.

How could Patrick keep going through the difficulties of his ministry? Was it that he did not face opposition? Patrick faced threats and beatings, poisoning and back-biting, and yet he pressed on. As is remembered on St Patrick’s Day, he went to preach freedom to the Irish who had held him as a slave and endured by the courage provided by the Lord.

Patrick did not see himself as worthy to be used by the Lord to reach the people or Ireland. However God has chosen to use the weak in the world to shame the strong. It is with a message of foolishness that he saves the sinners. “His strength is made perfect in our weakness.” God gave Patrick courage to keep going even when he was afraid. He was provided with strength in the face of struggles.

Growing up, Patrick’s father was a deacon and his grandfather a priest. Patrick did not follow their teaching. Early on, his struggles, trials and suffering were because of his unbelief – God used them to draw him to the Rescuer. When he was 16, Patrick was captured in an Irish raid along the coast of Britain. During his 6 years as a slave in Ireland he called upon the name of the Lord and began to pray daily.  After that time God provided him with a way of escape. Patrick returned to his home in Britain where he had long been thought dead. 

Then Patrick had a vision. He heard the voice of the Irish; calling him to come and preach the Gospel to them. Despite the advice and warning of many he went back to the place he had been held in slavery to rescue those in slavery to sin, and give them the chance of the true freedom that he had received from the Lord. When people tried to discourage him from going to preach the Gospel to the Irish, Patrick answered them with Jesus command in Matthew 28:19-20: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

So, ready to take affliction for the advance of the Gospel, Patrick left his family and returned to the country of his former captivity. During his ministry in Ireland he sometimes wished to go back and visit his friends and family in Britain and Gaul but did not want to leave the young Christians in their time of persecution. He suffered much under the hands of unjust men. He was persecuted and imprisoned but the Lord provided for his release. He encouraged the new believers not to fear in the face of danger but instead spread God’s name. 

Why was Patrick fearless in his tribulations? Because he had cast his cares upon the Lord and trusted the promise that the Lord would sustain him. Daily he expected to be murdered, betrayed, or reduced to slavery. Through many discouragements and tribulations he continued to labour for the advance of the Gospel. He knew that God had planned everything out in the ages past and whatever befalls, whether good or evil we can trust Him.