(Read 2 Corinthians 4)
Two of my close friends were born in Egypt, but they couldn’t be more different. One is a CPA and business manager for a large dental practice, and the other is a chef, teacher, and disabled combat vet. One grew up as a longtime believer in a Coptic Christian family, and the other in a devout Muslim family. Despite the differences in how they came to know Christ, the similarities rest in where they are now.
In life, we often encounter trials that test our faith, security, and endurance. People with mature faith usually wear adversity well. Some of the most resilient and joyous people I know suffer from many things I’m not sure I could handle.
Both of my friends are serious and profound followers of Jesus Christ. One has believed since he was a child, and the other shunned his family’s traditions and acceptance in exchange for the grace and salvation of Christ. These men both live their lives based on the righteousness of our Savior. One has been true to his faith for decades, while the other paid a steep price for his relationship with Jesus.
We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.
2 Corinthians 4:8-12
When I first remember reading this scripture, the imagery of a washing machine came to mind. Rinse and repeat. Hard pressed, perplexed, tumble dry, persecuted, struck down, spin, but not destroyed. If you talk to anyone over forty, believer or not, they’ll tell you they’ve been through these times in their life. The Apostle Paul, in his second letter to the Corinthians, offers profound insight into enduring such hardships with steadfast faith. Paul provides a powerful reminder that while we may be afflicted and perplexed, we are never abandoned by God.
Christian believers face harsh realities that non-believers don’t. We live with the promise of things not seen, whereas atheists use the world to back up their claims. They stake their beliefs on what they see and observe; followers of Christ place their hope on the assurance of the innocent who died on a stake.
Paul uses vivid imagery to describe the pressures and persecutions they endure. Yet, in these situations, he emphasizes God’s sustaining power. Though we are pressed, perplexed, persecuted, and struck down, we are not crushed, in despair, abandoned, or destroyed. This contrast highlights the resilience of God’s presence in our lives. In our own experiences, we often face circumstances that seem overwhelming. Whether it’s financial difficulties, emotional stress, threats of violence, health problems, or personal loss, the weight can feel unbearable. However, Paul’s words remind us that despite the severity of our trials, we are upheld by a power greater than any of the giants we face in life. Difficulties with family, community, churches, and even our own hearts prey upon us every single day, but Paul reminds us that it is God’s strength, not our own, that prevents us from being crushed.
It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself. All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.
2 Corinthians 4:13-15
Faith is the bedrock of Paul’s message. In this passage, he quotes Psalm 116:10 to emphasize that belief naturally leads to declaration. Our faith in the resurrection of Jesus assures us that we, too, will be raised and presented to God. This hope not only empowers us to endure our present sufferings with confidence but also empowers us to face our future giants with confidence.
Our faith is not a fact-based condition relying on transient circumstances. Simply put, it sits upon the eternal promise of the resurrection. If this perspective doesn’t transform our approach to adversity, we should look closer at our faith. The trials we face serve a greater purpose, contributing to the spiritual growth and gratitude of others. As God’s grace extends to more people through our testimonies, it results in thanksgiving that glorifies God.
No one likes suffering, but 2 Corinthians tells us that God uses it as an instrument of grace. Our hardships are not just about us; they impact everyone around us. When we endure suffering with faith and grace, others witness God’s work in our lives. Seeing God’s glory shine through the darkest circumstances offers hope to others who may be going through the same thing. This active demonstration of faith leads to a ripple effect. Our perseverance inspires others to trust in God, ultimately bringing glory to Him.
I have two other lifelong friends who have and are facing cancer giants. If you didn’t know them, you might think they’re typical middle-class white guys with no problems. They’ll talk about their health if people ask, but they don’t let their cancer define them. They have learned more about adversity than either man ever wished. Through their afflictions, they have been examples of obedience, faith, and resilience. While enduring lifestyle changes, neither one wandered from the LORD. Neither blamed God or asked, “Why me?” Their faith carried them through diagnoses, surgeries, procedures, paperwork, and side effects. Given the chance, they wouldn’t want to go through it again, but they would. God’s glory is evident in their journeys as their relationship with Him is more vital now than before.
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18
John Piper wrote about 2 Corinthians 4:16, “There is something here nobody wants and something everybody wants.” Nobody wants to decay. We are wired to want to live, to avoid pain, and always to be healthy, but we all want renewal—not for a moment but for an eternity. This renewal is a source of hope and strength, enabling us to persevere.
Most of all, Paul wrote about us maintaining an eternal perspective. He describes our troubles as “light and momentary,” not trivializing their pain and significance but highlighting their insignificance relative to the everlasting glory they produce. Focusing on what is unseen, we attach our hope to the eternal over the decaying.
Whether you’re the victim of violence, the spouse of an infidelity, a neglected child, on trial for a crime you didn’t commit, or suffering from a health crisis, the struggle is just as real. No matter what’s visibly going on in someone’s life, we truly don’t know nor can we appreciate their struggles. They are personal to them. The giants we face are scary monsters no matter how long we have been followers of Christ. The rinse-and-repeat cycle affects new and seasoned vets alike.
Our troubles, no matter how severe, are temporary. The glory that awaits us is eternal and incomparable.
Key Applications
- Make time each day for spiritual renewal. Devote time for prayer, Bible study, and worship. We might be pressed, perplexed, and persecuted by the giants we encounter, but we will not be crushed.
- Share your experiences of God’s faithfulness with others. Your victorious battles can be a powerful testimony that encourages and strengthens the faith of those around you.
- Through your trials, remind yourself of the eternal perspective. Write down key verses like 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 and place them where you can see them daily. Let these reminders help you maintain hope and courage.