Joy - Part 2

2 Corinthians 4: 8-12:We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. 9 We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. 10 Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.11 Yes, we live under constant danger of death because we serve Jesus, so that the life of Jesus will be evident in our dying bodies. 12 So we live in the face of death, but this has resulted in eternal life for you.

Have you had it hard all these years? all your life? throughout your walking with God? Well, it should not be of surprise to you. Let me list what you should embrace and later we will review why embrace it:

pressed on every side by troubles,
We are perplexed,
We are hunted down,
We get knocked down,
Through suffering,
live under constant danger of death,
we live in the face of death.

Now why should we embrace it?

1. Because it is something every Christian faces. Jesus said: I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world (John 16:33) It was to my surprise that I had to once come to agreement with God that not only is life a war, therefore the armor of God found in Ephesians 6, but also that pain, suffering, trials, etc were going to be part of my life.

2. In the same verses in 2 Corinthians 4:8-12 it says why we embrace all these though seasons in our lives:
but we are not crushed,
but not driven to despair,
but never abandoned by God,
but we are not destroyed,
our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies,
because we serve Jesus, so that the life of Jesus will be evident in our dying bodies,
but this has resulted in eternal life for you.

Are these not the best buts you have heard of? Definitely better than many excuses. Matter of fact, they are not excuses! They are promises!! God promises these to us.

All in all, yes we are going to face some pretty ugly seasons in life, but take heart, God has overcome the world, once again, John 16:33. And the greatest thing is that when you trust God with each and every promise He gives you, you can and will have peace in the midst of chaos. How? Why? Because in Christ, you have it. Remember always, you have peace with God through Christ (Acts 10:36, Romans 5:1)