"For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:
But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:
Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;"
2 Corinthians 1:8-10
Paul is talking about a specific event here, but I think similar things happen to all of us. I know I have felt "pressed out of measure, above strength" before. And despair happens. We have times when we lose hope... sometimes in life itself, sometimes in a relationship or a job or a health situation or something else that matters to us a lot. I think Paul's message here is strong and clear. Even when we know that we can't overcome a situation ourselves, and that we are doomed: to death or whatever other consequence is looming over us, God is still in charge. Death can't beat someone who can raise the dead. Illness and suffering can't conquer someone who can heal with a touch. And when we get to that point, where we can't cope anymore, we can still turn to God, who can cope with anything. Let's let go of the despair because it isn't only ourselves that we have to trust in. With God we are never alone. Today, let's trust God when we can't trust ourselves, and know that he has, does, and will deliver us.
But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:
Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;"
2 Corinthians 1:8-10
Paul is talking about a specific event here, but I think similar things happen to all of us. I know I have felt "pressed out of measure, above strength" before. And despair happens. We have times when we lose hope... sometimes in life itself, sometimes in a relationship or a job or a health situation or something else that matters to us a lot. I think Paul's message here is strong and clear. Even when we know that we can't overcome a situation ourselves, and that we are doomed: to death or whatever other consequence is looming over us, God is still in charge. Death can't beat someone who can raise the dead. Illness and suffering can't conquer someone who can heal with a touch. And when we get to that point, where we can't cope anymore, we can still turn to God, who can cope with anything. Let's let go of the despair because it isn't only ourselves that we have to trust in. With God we are never alone. Today, let's trust God when we can't trust ourselves, and know that he has, does, and will deliver us.
No comments:
Post a Comment