TRUTH TO KNOW WHEN LIFE IS BEYOND OUR ABILITY TO ENDURE
SCRIPTURE:
“Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, 22 set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.” (2Corinthians 1:21—22)
OBSERVATION:
Paul’s greeting to his brothers and sisters in Corinth encouraged them to be hopeful and comforted in times of trouble. Paul encouraged the believers that God comforts them with the comfort that can be shared with others in trouble. Paul earlier wrote what happened, saying, “We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters,about the problems we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under tremendous pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.
There are times when our troubles can be far beyond our ability to endure, and we, like Paul and his friends, are desperate and despair about life. Life can seem to be a life sentence of death. Life can put people under tremendous pressure and may be too much to handle. Marriage relationships are under pressure, working conditions unbearable, being with people is tiresome, sibling feuds are getting worse, and so on.
Paul saw what was happening to them so they might NOT rely on themselves but on God, who raises the dead. Thus, Paul said that “NOW” it is God who makes him, his team, and the church in Corinth to STAND FIRM IN CHRIST. It is God who makes us stand firm and immovable and endure all our troubles in Christ.
Secondly, It is GOD who ANOINTED US IN CHRIST. The word anointed means God has chosen and separated us unto himself. It also means that God has anointed us with his power to withstand what we face. Paul continues that God also SET HIS SEAL OF OWNERSHIP ON US. All believers who stand firm in Christ belong to God. And all believers who stand firm in Jesus also have His Spirit in their hearts.
The truth is that we are never alone in our times of trouble. God, our heavenly Father, is always involved and journeys with us when life becomes unbearable beyond our ability to cope. God never leaves or forsakes us when life is so unkind and full of desperate moments. God Is our present help in times of need. He is our tower of refuge when life is breathing down on us, threats and troubles.
APPLICATION:
I am grateful for the reminder today that God is ever present in my life when troubles assailed my journey. I am confident of the promise of his presence that whatever happens in life, know that my God journeys with me when life is unbearable. He will make me stand firm in Christ. He will remind me that I belong to him and that he is always there. Therefore, I put my whole trust in Jesus today.
PRAYER:
Jesus, you are my Lord and Savior. You are my strength when I am weak, my ever-present help in my times of need, and I run to you today. I thank you that you are the power that I need to stand against life’s troubles. I look to you today with hope and surrender my life’s control to your gracious arms. Thank you that you were my comfort when I needed to be comforted. Amen!
