2 Corinthians 4:7-9: But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
How can faith help you endure when life gets brutal?
When we pray, God doesn’t usually change our situation, but He does change us, during our struggles. Often our pain is what brings us to depend on our Lord and mature in our walk. God expands our faith by carrying us through the problem. Yes, we are fragile jars of clay, but Christ is our strength and our power.
Isaiah 40:29-31: He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 31 but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
When I was working with orphans in Uganda for six years, I got malaria from the mosquitoes 28 times. I almost died each time. I was frustrated that God wasn’t keeping me healthy so I could serve the 450 orphans. The reality was God wasn’t allowing me to rely on my strengths. He was humbling me, because my pride and self-dependence was keeping me from allowing the Spirit to work through me, doing things I couldn’t begin to understand, let alone accomplish. As a result, learning persistence in Christ, not myself, is what gave me the power to hold on when I was mentally, emotionally, and spiritually confused and exhausted. I was struck down, but not destroyed because I learned to trust God more the I trusted myself. Where in your life do you need to trust God more than yourself?
Isaiah 41:13: For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, do not fear; I will help you.
What is the Holy Spirit saying to you through these scriptures?
