We have all had moments in our lives that feel hopeless. Life brings unimaginable and devastating curve balls when we least expect it. If you are currently in a moment that feels hopeless, take heart, my friend. There is always hope when we turn to Christ because we know that in the end, He will redeem and restore everything.
The apostle Paul reminded readers to hold on to hope in 2 Corinthians 4. In this chapter, he talked about the difficulties that he and other followers of Christ were facing, particularly the persecution they were facing because they followed Christ. He wrote, “We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed” (verses 8-9). Despite all of the hardships and difficulties that Paul and other followers of Christ were facing, why did Paul insist that they were not crushed or driven to despair? He answered that question as he continued writing further down in 2 Corinthians 4, “That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever” (verses 16-18). Paul understood that the trials and hardships we face in this world will not last, but eternity with Christ will last forever.
The apostle Paul made it clear that even in our darkest, most difficult days, we are not hopeless. Why? We are not hopeless because of Christ. If we have placed our faith in Him, we know that we will spend eternity with Him forever. Because of Christ, we are never without hope. Will you look to Him today? If you do, you will be able to say, along with Paul, “We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair.”
Write down 2 Corinthians 4:8 three times. As you write, meditate on the verse, focusing on the truth that we are never without hope if we are followers of Christ. Let the truth from this verse bring you peace and encouragement throughout your day that no situation is without hope for those who are in Christ.
Therefore, since God in his mercy has given us this new way, we never give up. 2 We reject all shameful deeds and underhanded methods. We don’t try to trick anyone or distort the word of God. We tell the truth before God, and all who are honest know this.
3 If the Good News we preach is hidden behind a veil, it is hidden only from people who are perishing. 4 Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.
5 You see, we don’t go around preaching about ourselves. We preach that Jesus Christ is Lord, and we ourselves are your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.
7 We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.
8 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.
13 But we continue to preach because we have the same kind of faith the psalmist had when he said, “I believed in God, so I spoke.” 14 We know that God, who raised the Lord Jesus, will also raise us with Jesus and present us to himself together with you. 15 All of this is for your benefit. And as God’s grace reaches more and more people, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory.
16 That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. 17 For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! 18 So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.
