Seeing good in evil

However much I disagree with some of the teachings of St. Paul in some of his epistles, Paul remains a Christianity giant. In fact, some scholars see Paul as the co-founder of Christianity. Without him, Christianity would never have been like what it is nowadays.
Christians must be able to withstand worldly temptations and worries. They should be willing to endure long-term sufferings for the sake of Christ and for the Gospel. If they are able to suffer silently for the sake of saving other souls, they are not simply saintly, but also heroic. However, as a missionary, Paul did not suffer silently. He was very vocal in airing his opinions. We learn about him from the epistles he wrote. Of course, he was vocal because he needed to persuade his readers of various issues they encountered while practising the Christian faith. Yet, what impresses me most, is not his rhetorics but his spirituality. Paul was truly a man of deep faith. This is shown in how he handled difficult situations.
In view of difficulties, people naturally would avoid them. When escape is made impossible, some choose not to resist, resigning themselves to "fate". Paul went beyond the resignation to fate. He tried to see good in evil. For example, people naturally resent imprisonment because they would lose their freedom. Moreover, the treatment they receive would be terrible: the food, the torture and the isolation etc. Yet, for Paul, he saw his imprisonment as an opportunity to preach Christ. In his own words:
I want you to know, brethren, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel,
so that it has become known throughout the whole praetorian guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ;
and most of the brethren have been made confident in the Lord because of my imprisonment, and are much more bold to speak the word of God without fear (Philippians 1:12-14).
His house arrest allowed him to preach to the Roman Legion.
His imprisonment emboldened the confidence of the other Christians.
Take another example:
Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will.
The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel;
the former proclaim Christ out of partisanship, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment.
What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in that I rejoice (Philippians 1:15-18).
There were rivals who took advantage of Paul's imprisonment to discredit him. Yet, Paul had such a large heart as to rejoice because Christ was proclaimed! He did not feel threatened. Nor did he feel opposed. As long as Christ was proclaimed, he did not care/worry too much. Paul was truly a missionary.
To live is good and to die bad. This is a very natural reaction for everyone. So, what did Paul say about this?
For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain (Philippians 1:21).
Paul desired to meet death so that he might be united with Christ.
My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better (Philippians 1:23b).
So, for Paul, whether to live or to die, he was able to find something positive in them. While ordinary people fear death, Paul welcomed it because he would then be united with Christ. For most people, to live is a punishment. Yet, Paul was able to ground his life in Christ and see his life as beneficial as possible to all people.
But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account (Philippians 1:24).
Yet, there was one thing that Paul found it difficult to handle: factionism
complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind (Philippians 2:2).
Most Christians are stubborn people. They rarely spend time thinking from other people's perspectives. Division was rampant. It happened in almost all the Churches Paul had established. He could only appeal to them, exhorting them to be united. Paul could not bring himself to see the Christ movement split up. Had he lived in the 16th century, he would have been driven crazy by the split up of the Mystical Body of Christ during Reformation.
My dear readers, can you see any good in this split up of the Church? Paul could not. I can!

My dear Advocate, You are able to work good things out from evil. If we are not able to see the good You perform out from evil, we do not deserve heaven. I pray that You grant us discernment so that we can see Your glory. Amen.