“We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened  that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and He will continue to deliver us.”

  – 2 Corinthians 1:8-10

Paul’s words in the opening lines of 2 Corinthians speak for themselves, so much so that I am tempted to not write anything at all, and simply let them stand alone.

What have I to add? Paul has encapsulated the tragic beauty of the life of a follower of Christ succinctly and perfectly.

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We who follow Christ, we are not promised  an easy life, or a perfect one.

As Paul did, we will suffer under pressure, pressure that will leave us in despair – such that we despair even of life itself.
Despairing so that in our hearts we feel the sentence of death.

But this, in the great sovereign plan of our God, leads us to rely on Him all the more.

How great is our God?
So great that He raises the dead.
So great that He has delivered us, and will continue to do so.

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