This Day in History: 0000-09-30

September 30 – 2 Corinthians 4:8-10

We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed.  
We are perplexed, but not driven to despair.  
We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. 
We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.  
Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus 
so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.

Have you ever taken a little time to think about the believers all around the world who are suffering through the difficulties of this life, just as we are?  We are one family, united under God and we all live in this hopelessly fallen world.  Life hurts.  It is filled with troubles, trials, fights, and failures. But God’s Word tells us that as we suffer here on earth we have an opportunity to demonstrate the power of Jesus to the world around us.  If we fail to see our trials as anything less than an opportunity to bring glory to Him, then we have missed the point.

Let’s remember that we have the Holy Spirit of God living in us, and He gives us the power to be victorious through all our troubles.

As we see trouble pressing in on us from every side, let’s cry out to God; not only for ourselves but for every member of the family of God who is feeling the same suffocating pressure.  Let’s ask God to keep us all from being crushed.  As our chests tighten and our hearts beat faster and we are stricken with fear because of the stress that threatens to pull us under, let’s lean into Him.  Let’s ask Him for victory over the anxiety and depression that has the potential to bind us in captivity to the oppressive thoughts of an unhealthy mind.

Though we are hunted down by the enemy, let’s remember that God will never EVER abandon us, because He lives within us! He is part of us, and has promised to keep us until the day He brings us home to Him.  So let the enemy prowl around, let him stalk us, let him do his best to bring us down.  He has already lost, he is already defeated!  God has already won.  It is finished, and we know it!

We may get knocked down for a moment, but God will lift us up with His mighty right hand.  He may allow us to suffer for a time, but He will never allow us to be destroyed.  Let’s consider it a privilege to be counted worthy of the trials we face.  Let’s allow them to shape us and refine us and mold us more and more each day into the image of Christ.  He suffered so much for us.  Let’s be willing to suffer for Him!  Let’s pray that all over the world His people will be a shining testimony of the mighty work of the Lord Jesus Christ, pointing people everywhere to Him!