This is for you who’s going through a difficult time, and it feels overwhelming, and you don’t know what else to do. Read through the Scriptures (in italics), and receive them by faith. They are medicine to our souls, and strength to our bones. Be blessed.
2 Corinthians 4:13-15
We have the same Spirit of faith that is described in the Scriptures when it says,
“First I believed, then I spoke in faith.”[k]
So we also first believe then speak in faith. We do this because we are convinced that he who raised Jesus will raise us up with him, and together we will all be brought into his presence. Yes, all things work for your enrichment so that more of God’s marvelous grace will spread to more and more people, resulting in an even greater increase of praise[m] to God, bringing him even more glory!
Why do we hold on to faith? Why do we hold on to what seems impossible? Why do we hold on to joy when everything around feels dismal? Why do we stay in faith, believing for impossible miracles, for healing, for breakthrough? Why do we dare to hope so much?
Because death couldn’t win. Because Jesus really defeated it. Because his grace, his empowerment (his power working within us) is real.
Because his own Spirit of faith lives inside of us!
And he testifies to us of the truth, that because He lives, so shall we live.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18
So no wonder we don’t give up. For even though our outer person gradually wears out, our inner being is renewed every single day. We view our slight, short-lived troubles in the light of eternity. We see our difficulties as the substance that produces for us an eternal, weighty glory far beyond all comparison, because we don’t focus our attention on what is seen but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but the unseen realm is eternal.
No wonder we don’t give up! The One who lives inside of us, isn’t a faint whisper in the mighty storm. He’s mightier than the greatest storm, He’s more eternal than anything we could face. We will outlast our battles, because we were born of His eternal Spirit, one that never faints or dies.
How else can death work in us and we still end up producing life? How can we go through trials and disappointments and still end up bursting with praise for the One who works all things for our good!?
We continually break down and are built up by his life-giving glory that never fades.
You are being built up right now, from the inside out.
One of my all time favourite verses (same as above, but quoting from NIV) – 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 Cor 4:17-18)
These light and momentary troubles WILL fade away, but what won’t fade is the eternal glory that is bursting forth from within us. It comes not from our perishing bodies, but from His glorious Spirit breathing and roaring inside of us! Can you hear Him? He is roaring, He is singing.
He is releasing songs of deliverance, songs of victory over you, over your body, over your situation, over your weakness.
Hear him roar in your weakest moment, and receive his glorious strength inside you.
2 Corinthians 5:4-5
So, while living in this “tent,” we groan under its burden, not because we want to die but because we want these new bodies. We crave for all that is mortal to be swallowed up by eternal life. And this is no empty hope, for God himself is the one who has prepared us for this wonderful destiny. And to confirm this promise, he has given us the Holy Spirit, like an engagement ring, as a guarantee.[b]
You’re sealed with His promise. It’s guaranteed! Nothing seen or unseen can change that truth. You’re safe, secure, and sealed into eternal life. All because of Jesus, His resurrection life that is pulsating within you every second!
2 Corinthians 5:6-7
That’s why we’re always full of courage. Even while we’re at home in the body, we’re homesick to be with the Master— for we live by faith, not by what we see with our eyes.
We are full of courage, we are full of faith! Because our realities aren’t defined by the things we see right now but by the real Hope who is ALIVE inside of us.
“That’s why we’re always full of courage!” 2 Corinthians 5:6 (The Passion Translation)
I’ll leave you with this passage that reminds us that quitting is not an option.
2 Corinthians 4:7-12
We are like common clay jars that carry this glorious treasure within, so that this immeasurable power will be seen as God’s, not ours.[h] Though we experience every kind of pressure, we’re not crushed. At times we don’t know what to do, but quitting is not an option.[i] 9 We are persecuted by others, but God has not forsaken us. We may be knocked down, but not out.
10 We continually share in the death of Jesus in our own bodies[j] so that the resurrection life of Jesus will be revealed through our humanity.
11 We consider living to mean that we are constantly being handed over to death for Jesus’ sake so that the life of Jesus will be revealed through our humanity.
12 So, then, death is at work in us but it releases life in you.
Even when death is at work, it will release LIFE, because nothing can pass through Jesus and remain dead. Your life is hidden in him, so don’t worry, it cannot be lost.
He is the power within you to endure, to push through, to rise above everything that surrounds you, to overcome even death and move from glory to glory, from life to more life, from freedom into more freedom!
No wonder we don’t give up!
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