Strength to Make it Through

II Corinthians 4:8-18

⁸We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; ⁹persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed-- ¹⁰always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. ¹¹For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. ¹²So then death is working in us, but life in you. ¹³And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, "I believed and therefore I spoke," we also believe and therefore speak, ¹⁴knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you. ¹⁵For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God. ¹⁶Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. ¹⁷For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, ¹⁸while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Everyone at some point in their lives suffers in some form or another. We are not only under attack spiritually, but we also have to deal with people, jobs, bills, spouses, kids and other relatives on a daily basis. Sometimes it is enough to drive you insane. It was no different for Paul. Look at what he said in verses 8-10. "We are hard pressed on every side," "persecuted, struck down," and "Always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus." Paul, like some of us, was going through a devastating time in his life. Every time he turned around someone was either trying to kill him or throw him in prison, or ridiculing him for his faith. I'm sure at times he felt overwhelmed by it all. He would not be human if he hadn't.

I don't know about you, but there have been times when I have been so overwhelmed by the troubles of this life, I didn't know if God was listening or if He even cared what was happening to me. I kind of felt like the psalmist Asaph. Look at what he said in Psalm 77:1-9. ¹I cried out to God with my voice-- To God with my voice; And He gave ear to me. ²In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord; My hand was stretched out in the night without ceasing; My soul refused to be comforted. ³I remembered God, and was troubled; I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah ⁴You hold my eyelids open; I am so troubled that I cannot speak ⁵I have considered the days of old, The years of ancient times. ⁶I call to remembrance my song in the night; I meditate within my heart, And my spirit makes diligent search ⁷Will the Lord cast off forever? And will He be favorable no more? ⁸Has His mercy ceased forever? Has His promise failed forevermore? ⁹Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has He in anger shut up His tender mercies? Have you ever felt like that? So overwhelmed by the pressures of this life, that it seemed like God wasn't listening to your prayers? What do you do in times like that? If you're like most people(me included sometimes), you try to handle it yourself for as long as you can. Then, when all else fails, you decide to pray. When all along, prayer ought to be the first thing you do. Even when it seems like God isn't listening, pray anyway. Why? Because He "is" listening. Getting people to think that God isn't listening to them is one of the oldest tricks Satan has. We need to pray anyway. Just like David did in Psalm 69:1-3. ¹Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck. ²I sink in deep mire, Where there is no standing; I have come into deep waters, Where the floods overflow me. ³I am weary with my crying; My throat is dry; My eyes fail while I wait for my God. Do you see how desperate David sounds in verse one? He felt like that he was about to drown in his troubles. He had cried so much that he couldn't see. Also look at Psalm 55:1-8. ¹Give ear to my prayer, O God, And do not hide Yourself from my supplication. ²Attend to me, and hear me; I am restless in my complaint, and moan noisily, ³Because of the voice of the enemy, Because of the oppression of the wicked; For they bring down trouble upon me, And in wrath they hate me. ⁴My heart is severely pained within me, And the terrors of death have fallen upon me. ⁵Fearfulness and trembling have come upon me, And horror has overwhelmed me. ⁶So I said, "Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest. ⁷Indeed, I would wander far off, And remain in the wilderness. ⁸I would hasten my escape From the windy storm and tempest."

We have all felt like David and Asaph at one time or another. We feel like we are passing through the "valley of the shadow of death" that David mentioned in Psalm 23. It's a difficult time and we sometimes want to fly away like David said in Psalm 55:6. But that isn't what God wants for His children. He wants us to learn from our experiences and use the knowledge that He gives us. When we pass through our "valley," there are three things we need to remember.

1. There is a reason for the trials we are going through. What is that reason? There could be many reasons. But I think that we can narrow those reasons under three categories.

1. That Jesus can be revealed through our affliction. Look at II Corinthians 4:10-15.

¹⁰always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. ¹¹For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. ¹²So then death is working in us, but life in you. ¹³And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, "I believed and therefore I spoke," we also believe and therefore speak, ¹⁴knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you. ¹⁵For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God. Our attitude in how we handle our troubles speaks volumes to the lost. They will become curious about how we can handle these problems without going crazy. Those questions will give us the opportunity to share the gospel with them.

2. That we might be able to help others going through the same kind of difficulties we're going through. Look at II Corinthians 1:3&4. ³Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, ⁴who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. One of the greatest blessings we can receive is when we can help someone that is going through a difficult time. They know that we are genuinely concerned because we have gone through the same thing. It's good to help whenever we can, but it adds a special touch when we have walked the same road they have and are able to share how we have made it through or, are making it through. It means so much to know that they are not alone and that someone cares.

3. The third category is probably the least favorite one and one that everyone assumes when we are going through a trial, and that is that we are being punished for sin in our lives. This, of course, is not always the case, but, nevertheless, it is true that sometimes we go through the things we go through because of sin in our lives. Galatians 6:7&8 says, ⁷Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. ⁸For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. God would not be the righteous God that He is if He did not punish sin, and we would not learn the lesson of obedience to our Heavenly Father. Although God will always forgive us of our sin, we still have to reap the consequences of that sin.

2. The second thing we need to remember as we pass through our "valley" is, That it Will Not Last Forever! When we go through a difficult time, it seems like it will never end. But it will end. It will soon all be over. We just have to hold on. Look at the second half of Psalm 30:5 - Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning. Remember what Paul said in II Corinthians 4:16-18? ¹⁶Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. ¹⁷For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, ¹⁸while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. The things we see each day and the things we go through are temporary. They won't last. I know that it is hard, but don't let yourself get wrapped up in the things going on around you. Paul said to Timothy in II Timothy 2:3&4 - ³You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. ⁴No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. As soldiers of Christ, we need to concentrate on serving Him even in the midst of a severe battle. If we get our eyes off the objective of serving, then we have opened an opportunity for the enemy to get into our lives and destroy us. If the enemy fire is too intense and we can't move, then pray and hold on, Reinforcements are on the way. The battle won't last forever. It will end, and if we hold on to Jesus, we will get the victory. Which brings us to the third thing we need to remember as we pass through our valley, and that is --

3. We can't make it through on our own strength. I guess it is something inside us, you can call it pride, or being strong willed, or stubbornness, or just plain sin, but there is something inside all of us that wants to be able to control a situation. We want or need to be able to fix something ourselves. But every time we try to make it through the "valley of the shadow of death" on our own strength, we'll fail. We need God's help, His strength to make it through this life, in the good times and the bad. Psalm 27:13&14 says, ¹³I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living. ¹⁴Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord! Sometimes we think of God only as far as salvation is concerned, but He is also willing to help us while we're here in this life. I can't name the times in my life that I would have given up and lost hope if I had not known the Lord or believed that He was going to help me. He can and does help us in our deepest need. We just have to trust Him to help us get through the valley that we are in. Look at Psalm 28:7&8 (next page)

⁷The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, And with my song I will praise Him. ⁸The Lord is their strength, And He is the saving refuge of His anointed. He is always there to help. He always know what is going on in our lives. He may not always take us out of a particular situation but He will always help us through it. Remember what I Corinthians 10:13 says, No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

What I want you to remember today is that God loves you and is always willing to help you. All you have to do is trust Him and believe that He is able to do just as He says. Psalm 31:1-3 says, ¹In You, O Lord, I put my trust; Let me never be ashamed; Deliver me in Your righteousness. ²Bow down Your ear to me, Deliver me speedily; Be my rock of refuge, A fortress of defense to save me. ³For You are my rock and my fortress; Therefore, for Your name's sake, Lead me and guide me.

Psalm 46:1-3 - ¹God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. ²Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; ³Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Sometimes it seems like things just can't get any worse, but always remember that God is a very present help. He doesn't send it too late. He sends it at just the right time. It may not be when we think He should or on our time. He sends it when He knows it is the right time for you to receive it.

We need to remember to pray and believe that God is able to get us through this battle we're going through. Psalm 55:16-18 says, ¹⁶As for me, I will call upon God, And the Lord shall save me. ¹⁷Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, And He shall hear my voice. ¹⁸He has redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me, For there were many against me. I don't know the battle that you are going through right now, but God does and He is willing to help you get through it and give you the victory. The important thing is, don't give up. He will give you the strength to make it through.