There is this gem of a scripture hidden within 2 Corinthians. It's written right past the passage about comfort.
2 Corinthians 1:8-11
For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and He will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again.
Such vivid language, Paul. Can you hear his despair?
For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself.
Have you been there? Carrying the weight of the world in your hands? Tears streaming down your face and you turn to the heavens and whisper, "Jesus, I just want you to hold me."
That point where you feel Paul's lament. Oh Lord, take me home.. but oh how I want to serve you!
Yes, I have despaired of life itself.
Have you ever been just so tired? So tired of fighting against the grain? So tired of pouring everything you have into a leaking cup? So tired when Jesus says, "Beloved, keep on giving." The gentle request is to give my all.
Have you been there? Yes, I have been there. Most often, I'm still there.
Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death.
I question, Haven't we already been brought to life? Aren't the readers of this book already redeemed? We were once dead, and now we are alive! How can it be that we still feel we receive the sentence of death? This comforts me. That others have felt the same that I feel. That even Paul, one of the founding fathers of our faith has felt the sentence of death. Further in Corinthians there is this tiny phrase the leapt off the page. It said this: conflicts on the outside, fears within.
We aren't alone. These feelings of, "How long, O Lord, How long?" are okay!
As long as I don't remain there.
But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.
The reason for the world. Often we search, up and down, side to side for a reason. A simple statement that answers every single question that floats and flitters through our mind as to why.
And Paul tells us, to make us rely not on ourselves but on God.
I think God knows. Actually, I know He knows my inner battle of temptation to despair or hope. He takes these circumstances that tempt me to despair and He paints hope through my world. My great and beautiful Artist paints hope across my dismal skies. He takes my fallen face with tear stricken cheeks and lifts my head. He says, "My Child, I AM."
2 Corinthians 1:8-11
For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and He will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again.
Such vivid language, Paul. Can you hear his despair?
For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself.
Have you been there? Carrying the weight of the world in your hands? Tears streaming down your face and you turn to the heavens and whisper, "Jesus, I just want you to hold me."
That point where you feel Paul's lament. Oh Lord, take me home.. but oh how I want to serve you!
Yes, I have despaired of life itself.
Have you ever been just so tired? So tired of fighting against the grain? So tired of pouring everything you have into a leaking cup? So tired when Jesus says, "Beloved, keep on giving." The gentle request is to give my all.
Have you been there? Yes, I have been there. Most often, I'm still there.
Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death.
I question, Haven't we already been brought to life? Aren't the readers of this book already redeemed? We were once dead, and now we are alive! How can it be that we still feel we receive the sentence of death? This comforts me. That others have felt the same that I feel. That even Paul, one of the founding fathers of our faith has felt the sentence of death. Further in Corinthians there is this tiny phrase the leapt off the page. It said this: conflicts on the outside, fears within.
We aren't alone. These feelings of, "How long, O Lord, How long?" are okay!
As long as I don't remain there.
But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.
The reason for the world. Often we search, up and down, side to side for a reason. A simple statement that answers every single question that floats and flitters through our mind as to why.
And Paul tells us, to make us rely not on ourselves but on God.
I think God knows. Actually, I know He knows my inner battle of temptation to despair or hope. He takes these circumstances that tempt me to despair and He paints hope through my world. My great and beautiful Artist paints hope across my dismal skies. He takes my fallen face with tear stricken cheeks and lifts my head. He says, "My Child, I AM."
So much meaning packed into one tiny statement. Every question is answered in that one simple statement. I AM.
He delivered us from such a deadly peril.
We lament, we despair, we scream. WHERE ARE YOU?
He delivered us.
In Psalm 77, The author is lamenting. He is surrounded by His deadly peril. Just read the first few lines. He cries, he seeks, he is weary, he faints, he moans. And he says one thing, my soul refuses to be comforted. He realized he was being comforted, yet his soul had refused the comfort.
He delivered us from such a deadly peril.
We lament, we despair, we scream. WHERE ARE YOU?
He delivered us.
In Psalm 77, The author is lamenting. He is surrounded by His deadly peril. Just read the first few lines. He cries, he seeks, he is weary, he faints, he moans. And he says one thing, my soul refuses to be comforted. He realized he was being comforted, yet his soul had refused the comfort.
And he makes an appeal to remember his song in the night. He knows God, he has a relationship with Him. What was it from so long ago that made his heart sing?
It was the steadfast love of The Lord. It was knowing his goodness. It was remembering that he delivered us from a deadly peril: death itself.
It was because of his redemption that our souls cried, "O death, where is your victory. O death, where is your sting?"
Death has no victory. Despair has no sting. Because we have been delivered. I remember my song in the night.
On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again.
Hope: to cherish a desire with anticipation.
It isn't quite as easy as it sounds to hope. Doubts get in the way. Little lies creep in the places of light and the luscious gardens of peace and joy. And I begin to see things from my own perspective. Romans 8 tells us that we must hope for the things we don't see patiently.
We cannot see how he will deliver us. We want it now. We want the freedom and comfort and security. That's why when he tells us to ask, he says ask and keep on asking, seek and keep on seeking. That's why he doesn't give us answers right away but says, "Be still, Beloved."
And because I know who he is, because I remember my song in the night, because I can stare the horrors of death in the face and laugh, "O where is your sting?" Because of this, I have set my hope that he will deliver us again.
As the winter makes his slow, painful appearance, my heart wonders how it will ever remain warm. I remember his faithfulness. I remember his goodness.
And I know, I am confident, that he will deliver us again.
As the winter makes his slow, painful appearance, my heart wonders how it will ever remain warm. I remember his faithfulness. I remember his goodness.
And I know, I am confident, that he will deliver us again.
