At the beginning of this second letter to the Corinthians, Paul tells of the affliction he experienced in Asia. "For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself" (vs 8). Basically they suffered so badly they wished they were dead—that's intense.
Look at what Paul says the purpose of that suffering was: "to make us rely not on ourselves but on God" (vs 9). They were suffering to such great lengths that there was literally nothing else they could do but trust God to deliver them.
That reminds me of another guy who trusted in God in the midst of suffering. Before David became king of Israel, he was seized by his enemies, the Philistines, in Gath. That's when he wrote Psalm 56. In verses 3 and 4 he says, "When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God I trust, I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?"
Both of these men faced extreme hardship in their lives. And both saw it as an opportunity for God to be made much of, because each of their situations was so grim that their only option was to rely on him and put their trust in him.
In this life you will most likely experience some very difficult things. You may already have. When those times come, remember that Paul and David suffered too. And instead of relying on yourself or others to deliver you, imitate those two by putting your trust in God, and looking to him for comfort and deliverance.
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