Despair

For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us; - 2 Corinthians 1.8-10

I was powerfully moved by this section. We would not often think of Paul as somebody who struggled with his faith. He just seems so Paul.

But here we see that Paul struggled – seriously. He says here that he was pressed out of measure, beyond his strength. It was so bad that he said they ‘despaired even of life.’

Have you ever felt that way. I have, and with far less cause than Paul and his missionary team. It is an issue that seems to constantly weigh me down. It is sadly based on circumstance and the future and faith. It can bring me close to despair if I am not careful.

But here we have Paul, despairing of life itself. Look at his persecptive.

God has delivered us in the past
God delivers us now
We trust that God will deliver us in the future

In that he found hope to carry on.

The words are so simple. No matter what we are down about. No matter why we are discouraged. No matter what we find making us depressed. No matter what causes us to despair we have the the same confidence that Paul had.

One more time.

God has taken care of it the past
God is taking care of it now
God will take care of it in the future

It is obvious from Paul’s life that it doesn’t mean it is going to be an easy road, but we can be assured that God will be there with us and carry us through.