2 Corinthians 4:8-12

“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.”

Sometimes we may feel like we are at the end of our rope, but Paul reminds us here that we are never at the end of our hope. We are subject to sin and suffering but God will never abandon us. Because Christ has won the victory over death. This allows us to have eternal life, all our risks, trials and humiliations are opportunities for Christ to demonstrate his presence and power in and through us. I ask myself sometimes if I could handle all the persecution and strife that Paul survived, realizing that if Christ is in us, he was also in Paul. This is how he survived, he relied on Jesus. God worked through him mightily, and even though it looked like at the time, that Paul did not have great success, God used him mightily and used him to impact many lives for Christ. Are you a vessel for God to use?

Dear Lord, thank you for your love for me. Help me to stay strong in times of trouble and strife. Help me to help others. I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.