We are hedged in (pressed) on every side [troubled and oppressed in every way], but not cramped or crushed; we suffer embarrassments and are perplexed and unable to find a way out, but not driven to despair; 9We are pursued (persecuted and hard driven), but not deserted [to stand alone]; we are struck down to the ground, but never struck out and destroyed; - 2 Corinthians 4:8-9
You took a couple of shots to the head, perhaps a few to your chest but you are still standing. Your opponent matched you stride for stride. He caught you off guard with a few jabs and uppercuts. You are stunned but you are not finished. You take a few more shots to the body and maybe one or two the face. You look around you. You see the faces in the crowd calling for blood. Some are laughing; others are shaking their heads. You look at your opponent. He’s taunting you as you struggle to maintain your balance—to keep your dignity. Then you feel it. Hope. You remember that you’ve read the end of this script and you know all to well how it ends: you win! You remember that regardless of what it looks like—what it feels like—the referee, the judges and the corner man are all on your side. They are all rooting for you. The same applies to every day life.
The scripture tells us that there are moments in our faith journey that will seem like hell itself has declared war against us. It attests to times where we’ll feel abandoned, hurt, troubled, embarrassed and confused. It speaks of those times where we are inundated with emotion and tribulation. We simply want to give up. It is at those times where we must remember the battle is not ours, it is the Lord’s.
God never deserts us. He never allows us to be swept away by life’s tumultuous currents. He is always there rooting for us and orchestrating things to work for our benefit. The reality is painful situations and uncertainties are apart of life.
There is no escape from them but there is a way to thrive in spite of them. In fact, the scripture goes on to explain: our light, momentary affliction (this slight distress of the passing hour) is ever more and more abundantly preparing and producing and achieving for us an everlasting weight of glory [beyond all measure, excessively surpassing all comparisons and all calculations, a vast and transcendent glory and blessedness never to cease!]. Simply phrased, our afflictions will eventually pass. But in the meantime, they prepare and produce glory in our lives.
They position us to receive abundant blessings just like Christ received for enduring the cross. Each of us has a cross to bear but there’s always a silver lining or a blessing in it for us! This is the crux of God’s wisdom. His ways are not like ours. Buddhists call this prajna.
You took a couple of shots to the head, perhaps a few to your chest but you are still standing. Your opponent matched you stride for stride. He caught you off guard with a few jabs and uppercuts. You are stunned but you are not finished. You take a few more shots to the body and maybe one or two the face. You look around you. You see the faces in the crowd calling for blood. Some are laughing; others are shaking their heads. You look at your opponent. He’s taunting you as you struggle to maintain your balance—to keep your dignity. Then you feel it. Hope. You remember that you’ve read the end of this script and you know all to well how it ends: you win! You remember that regardless of what it looks like—what it feels like—the referee, the judges and the corner man are all on your side. They are all rooting for you. The same applies to every day life.
The scripture tells us that there are moments in our faith journey that will seem like hell itself has declared war against us. It attests to times where we’ll feel abandoned, hurt, troubled, embarrassed and confused. It speaks of those times where we are inundated with emotion and tribulation. We simply want to give up. It is at those times where we must remember the battle is not ours, it is the Lord’s.
God never deserts us. He never allows us to be swept away by life’s tumultuous currents. He is always there rooting for us and orchestrating things to work for our benefit. The reality is painful situations and uncertainties are apart of life.
There is no escape from them but there is a way to thrive in spite of them. In fact, the scripture goes on to explain: our light, momentary affliction (this slight distress of the passing hour) is ever more and more abundantly preparing and producing and achieving for us an everlasting weight of glory [beyond all measure, excessively surpassing all comparisons and all calculations, a vast and transcendent glory and blessedness never to cease!]. Simply phrased, our afflictions will eventually pass. But in the meantime, they prepare and produce glory in our lives.
They position us to receive abundant blessings just like Christ received for enduring the cross. Each of us has a cross to bear but there’s always a silver lining or a blessing in it for us! This is the crux of God’s wisdom. His ways are not like ours. Buddhists call this prajna.
©2010-2013 Minister Claretta Taylor Pam, Global Ecumenical Ministries Inc. and Universal Life Church Monastery of Massachusetts. All Rights Reserved
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