Walking through Trials

2 Corinthians 4:8-18 (KJV)

8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;

9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;

10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

11 For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.

12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you.

13 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;

14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.

15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.

16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

As I was reading for devotions this morning, I came to this passage. It struck a chord with all that my family, both immediate and extended, is going through. So, I went about a quick study and then put down some thoughts.

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The trials of life are often incredibly weighty. The burdens that we bear, though differing from one person to another, can cause us to stumble under the load. Often, while under the burden of the moment, we lose focus and look to ourselves and not to God. Instead of looking up to see Him, we look to our path to see what is before us or to our feet to see where we should step next. Yet, our understanding of our situation is flawed, as we can see only the very moment in time that we are in. We cannot see the future and, indeed, our view of the past is flawed -- remember the “good old days” that were not really so good.

We have two promises (and many others) from our God that go well with these verses.

1. God has promised to never leave us nor to forsake us.
2. He has declared that He will never put more on us than we can bear.

So, when we are called on to bear great trials, tests, and/or burdens, we can have 100% certainty that our great and loving God is with us all of the time. He will empower us to accomplish what He wants to see done. Romans 8:28 is still a true declaration; a conditional promise, but true nonetheless. He has stated “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” we may not see how the pieces fit together, but when it is over (perhaps in eternity), we will see the completed puzzle and marvel at the omniscience of God as He knew the beginning from the end and marvel in His omnipotence as He was able to accomplish what we thought impossible.

We may be knocked down, but He is still working. We may be in the midst of impossible circumstances, but God is still God. We can trust Him. We may not be able to see our way our, but He has a plan. He can be trusted to do right by His children. Our role is to trust and obey. Regardless of what we face and are called to endure, He will see us through to the other side and He wants to be glorified in us and through us as we follow the path He has put us on.

Psalm 129:2