We are experiencing trouble on every side, but are not crushed;we are perplexed, but not driven to despair;
we are persecuted, but not abandoned;
we are knocked down, but not destroyed,
always carrying around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our body.
For we who are alive are constantly being handed over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our mortal body.
As a result, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you….
For all these things are for your sake, so that the grace that is including more and more people may cause thanksgiving to increase to the glory of God.
Therefore we do not despair, but even if our physical body is wearing away, our inner person is being renewed day by day.
For our momentary, light suffering is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison because we are not looking at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen. For what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.
2Corinthians 4
In times of discouragement, it is easy to dwell on the negative. These verses teach me several things about discouragement:
1. Don’t be surprised. Jesus suffered, and in order to be like him, we can expect a certain amount of suffering. The passage says we “always” carry around in our body the death of Jesus.
2. We can be down, but we are not destroyed. That means I can and will get up.
3. God does not waste anything. Someone else might actually be blessed because of my suffering for Christ’s sake. There is a purpose.
4. I regain my strength by focusing on the eternal. If I think about my troubles, they seem overwhelming. But they are but momentary troubles.
Thank God for giving me hope and strength in weakness.