2 Corinthians 1
8. For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life;
9. indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead;
10. who delivered us from so great a peril of death, and will deliver us, He on whom we have set our hope. And He will yet deliver us,
11. you also joining in helping us through your prayers, so that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the favor bestowed on us through the prayers of many.
“Give me a break! Lift the pressure. Do something!” Have you ever cried out to God in this way? Many people live and work in situations for which there seems to be no relief or way out of hardship. They experience a constant, crushing strain whose cause could be anything from poor family life to physical discomfort from illness.
God promises His children a practical and readily available source of strength. When we are in need of great might, God provides a supernatural energy that expresses itself intellectually, morally, physically, and spiritually in the life of the believer. What is the source of our strength? Jesus Christ. When we by faith received the Lord Jesus Christ as our personal Savior, He came to dwell in us in the person of the Holy Spirit.
We do not have to beg and plead for God to provide us with the strength to face difficult circumstances; He has already given us the gift. Our acknowledgement of weakness and our confession that we need Christ opens the door to the unsurpassable power of God flowing through us. Declaring that we have come to the end of our own capacity allows the Lord to demonstrate His provision and protection over his children.
There are experiences in life that are beyond our control and our limited strength to endure. If we don’t know the key to persevering, we will stumble and fall. It is essential that we continually grow in our Christian life by studying God’s Word and seeking His will. |