Little sins that seem almost harmless still multiply until they leave us too blind even for grace. In Genesis 4 the Lord asks Cain why his face has fallen and warns that if he does not do well, sin is crouching at the door—its desire contrary to him, but he must rule over it.
As we think about joy in dark places, Paul turns to those who are actually preaching the Gospel with the aim of discrediting him. What do we do when people and circumstances seem to want to hurt us?