One reason it is hard to get to “nevertheless” is because of our will. When my parents wanted me to do something and I asked why? the answer would be “because I said so”. When they asked why I wanted to do something? my answer was “because I want to”. Our wants can be pretty intense and I have a called some folks I know a suit with an appetite. So I look at my wants which are pretty selfish and compare them to Paul.
Paul wanted to go to Bithynia, but the Holy Spirit prevented him (Acts 16:7
Paul wanted to go to Thessalonica, but Satan hindered him (1Thessalonians 2:18
Paul wanted to keep false teachers from the church in Ephesus where he ministered for three years, his longest in one place, loving them deeply, but he predicted that wolves would arise from among the elders themselves. (Acts 20:28-31
Paul had great grief over his countrymen’s rejection of the Gospel, but he could not change it even by wishing himself accursed from Christ for them. (Romans 9:1-5
Paul wanted to be rid of the thorn in his flesh, but It never happened. (2 Corinthians 12:7-10
