Timothy, evidently deeply affected by Paul's imprisonment, was in danger of allowing the trying circumstances to hinder his work for the Lord, and the Apostle therefore exhorted him to rekindle the divine gift that was in him. Naturally timid, and weak in body, there seems to have been the tendency with Paul's "beloved child" to be ashamed of the testimony of the Lord, and to shrink from the path of suffering. To encourage and stir Timothy, the Apostle reminds him of his sufferings and tells him that he is not ashamed; also that Onesiphorus was not ashamed of his chain. If weak in himself, Timothy was to be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. Paul had proved for himself the sufficiency of Christ's grace. Earlier in life Paul had thought that weakness would hinder him in the service of the Lord, and thrice besought the Lord to remove the thorn in his flesh, but the Lord answered, "My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness." What then is natural timidity or weakness of body when the grace of Christ is our resource? Do they not enable us to prove as Paul proved, the sufficiency of the grace of Christ?