Yes, Paul's initial experience as a Christian was difficult because he faced immediate persecution and had to flee for his life.
According to Les Feldick, God told Ananias that Paul would suffer great things for His name's sake (Acts 9:16), and Paul's life of suffering and fear began immediately as he had to flee. This difficulty was part of God's preparation for Paul to spread the Gospel of Grace, and it continued throughout his ministry.
Acts 9:16 — This verse directly states that Paul (Saul) would suffer great things for Christ's name, explaining the source of his difficulties.
The Bible records that immediately after his conversion, Saul began to preach Christ in the synagogues, but the Jews sought to kill him, and he had to escape by being let down in a basket (Acts 9:20-25). God told Ananias, "For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake" (Acts 9:16). Later, Paul himself testified of his sufferings: "In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren" (2 Corinthians 11:26). He also spoke of "the care of all the churches" (2 Corinthians 11:28).
Les Feldick teaches that Paul's initial experience as a Christian was difficult because God immediately commissioned him to suffer for Christ's name. In [Clip 5], Les explains that God told Ananias that Paul would suffer great things, and Paul himself caused much suffering to believers before his conversion, which weighed on him. Les also emphasizes in [Clip 3] that after his encounter on the Damascus road, Paul became an unstoppable force, but he faced constant discouragement and persecution. Furthermore, [Clip 2] reveals that Paul had to spend time (possibly three years in Arabia) to get Judaism out of his system, which was a difficult process. This suffering was part of God's preparation for Paul's unique ministry to the Gentiles.
Les Feldick notes that God told Ananias that Paul would suffer great things for His name's sake, and immediately Paul had to flee for his life. His life of suffering and fear began right away, which was part of preparing him to spread the Gospel of Grace. Les also points out that Paul was driven from city to city and was persecuted, but he was not forsaken; the Lord promised him, "I have much people in this city" (Acts 18:10).
Les Feldick explains that Paul (then Saul) had been a fierce persecutor of Jewish believers, forcing them to blaspheme or be put to death. After his conversion, the realization that he had been persecuting the Lord Himself weighed heavily on him, and he never got over it. Paul considered himself the least of the apostles because he had persecuted the church (1 Corinthians 15:9).
Caught Up to the Third Heaven — 2 Corinthians 12 Explained
Chinese have been ruthless and still are. And in Africa we have no idea of the amount of Christian people that have suffered for their faith, and so I think it bears repeating that in the last 100 years more Christians have been martyred than in all the other period of time back to the time of Christ.
Why Paul's Gospel Is Different From Peter's — Acts 9 & Galatians 1
That's the heart of our New Testament, "...even as in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, salvation, in which are some things hard to be understood." Thirty years afterwards, Peter still is having problems, but he has to agree, Paul is on the right track.
Getting Judaism Out of His System
Les explains that Paul likely spent three years in Arabia to get Judaism out of his system, a difficult process that prepared him for his grace-based ministry.
Unstoppable Yet Discouraged
Les shows that after his conversion, Paul became an unstoppable dynamo, but he had times of discouragement and was burdened with the care of the churches.
Paul's Sorrow Over Persecution
Les teaches that Paul was beaten down by the realization that he had persecuted the Lord and never fully got over it, calling himself the least of the apostles.
God's Commission to Suffer
Les teaches that God told Ananias Paul would suffer great things for Christ's name, and that Paul's past persecution of believers was the groundwork for his own suffering.
Why God's Strength Is Made Perfect in Weakness — 2 Corinthians 12:9
But as long as he could be a nobody, who could use him? God could. The more I've been studying with regard to these two letters to the Corinthians the last few months, and I hope I'm bringing it home to all of you here in the studio, as well as to our television audience.
Persecuted but Not Forsaken
Les notes that Paul was persecuted and driven from city to city, but he never gave up, and the Lord promised to be with him.
Acts 9:16: For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.
This verse is God's direct statement to Ananias about Paul, revealing that suffering was part of God's plan for him.
2 Corinthians 11:26: In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
Paul lists the many physical dangers he faced, illustrating the difficulty of his ministry.
2 Corinthians 11:28: Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.
Paul mentions the daily concern for the churches, adding to the burden he carried.
1 Corinthians 15:9: For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
Paul acknowledges his past persecution, showing the ongoing sorrow it caused him.
After his conversion, Paul began preaching Christ in the synagogues, which angered the Jews, and they plotted to kill him. Les Feldick notes that this immediate persecution was part of God's plan, as God had told Ananias that Paul would suffer great things for His name's sake.
Watch the Teaching: Caught Up to the Third Heaven — 2 Corinthians 12 Explained