Down But Not Out
Would not it be a pleasant world if we were never “hard pressed” or “perplexed”? Living in and with our unpleasant circumstances can be so tiresome, so frustrating, so constant.
We are weary from the drain of enduring difficulties. No matter what we do, life continues to present one challenge after another.
Perseverance Through Faith (2 Corinthians 4:8-9)
Is it possible that we are missing the means to alleviate stress and pain . . . or are we focusing on the wrong goal?
We Are Hard Pressed On Every Side But Not Crushed”
What was the apostle Paul pursuing in this letter to the Corinthians? The verses that surround 2 Corinthians 4:8 tell us that he didn’t seem intent on getting out of the places that caused pressure or perplexity.
Rather he had comprehended that there was a darkness in the world and when he found himself in the middle of it, he had a choice: to fret about the darkness or to reflect the light that life with Jesus breeds.
But how does that work? How do we, still living in the midst of spiritual darkness that disrupts our peace, shines? How do we suffer as Paul did but not slide down the spiral of negativity that leads to despair?
First, we can take heart that one of the greatest of Scripture’s authors lived a life of continual hardship and still penned the words of this verse.
The tone Paul used was not one of complaining but one of encouragement. He was telling the Corinthians that he endured persecution for the sake of others, like the people of Corinth, so that they may know Jesus.
Second, we see that Paul had an ability to withstand difficulty with an attitude that preserved his emotional well-being. That ability came from his relationship with Jesus.
Since we have a relationship with Jesus, we, too, can sustain emotional health in the midst of trying times.
Faith In Hard Times Bible Verses
It is a supernatural reality that we cannot learn or achieve by performance.
We comprehend it by focusing on this relationship with God through his Son instead of focusing on alleviating hardship.
Third, we do not resign ourselves to misery and become martyred victims.
We choose to believe that Jesus comes into our lives and infuses our thinking, feeling, and volition in ways that allow for a truly overcoming view of the circumstances of our lives.
We don’t have to be happy that we suffer, but we can experience the peace of God in the midst of pain.
We, like Paul, point to Jesus when others ask how we can endure suffering and keep going. We don’t take credit for exceptional ability. Job is a leading member of the Suffering Hall of Fame.
But we don’t have to look that far back in time for examples of endurance and faith in the midst of suffering.
Today and every day around the world, thousands of Christians are suffering for their faith.
During the 1990s, the U.S. State Department reported that persecution of Christians was a routine occurrence in more than 70 countries around the world.
Voice of the Martyrs, a ministry in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, is one of many groups that track down reports of persecuted believers worldwide and encourage Americans to pray for them.
2 Corinthians 4:8-9 Devotional
Some of the reports, like one that detailed the 2002 massacre of a Pakistani pastor and members of his flock, are shocking. But there’s another side of the persecution coin.
As has been the case for centuries, the blood of the martyrs is the fuel for the growth of the church.
In Pakistan and other countries, persecuted Christians are standing firm by living out their faith and passing it on to others. In many of the countries where persecution is worst, the church is growing at a rapid rate.
Biblical Encouragement For Difficult Times
And we are not shocked that darkness touches us. We understand that darkness is here because of rebellion against God and that the Light that overcomes the darkness is ours to embrace.
It is in Jesus.
Father, please give us your comfort in trying times, and allow us to experience your peace.