Perplexed?

Today’s Treasure

We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair.  Persecuted, but not forsaken, cast down but not destroyed. Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

2 Corinthians 4: 8-10

We previously discussed how our inner treasure of the Holy Spirit becomes evident when troubles afflict us.  It is the gospel “good news” that resides within us that sustains us through difficult circumstances.  

In the original Greek writing in this verse, the image is of afflictions coming at us on the outside, and fears welling up on the inside; and yet a narrow space is left open which gives us room to breathe--which interestingly is one of the definitions of “salvation.”  So just when you think there is nowhere to turn, hopelessness is replaced by the hope of our salvation. That defining moment when you think you will never get through that trial and then the “peace of God that surpasses all understanding that guards your heart and mind in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7) takes over your situation.

Now, if we look at the word perplexed, we find that it is derived from two Greek words meaning “we are at a loss: but not utterly at a loss.”  I love this because as believers, because of Jesus Christ and His sovereignty in our lives, we are never at a loss even though humanly speaking we may feel like we are. It’s that life preserver we hold on to in the thick of the storm.

It’s during those moments when you have no idea what God is doing in your life, where everything around you feels upended, when a situation like a medical doctor dropping the word cancer leaves you standing paralyzed -- that you feel the very presence of God.  I know, I have seen it in action.

I have a dear friend who beat cancer years ago, only to have it return and invade her lymph nodes.  She had a year of chemotherapy and radiation and all the sickness that accompanies those harsh remedies.  

The first time I saw her after her initial treatments, she had lost weight, looked frail, was losing her hair, and her once prestigious job was lying dormant on the shelf.  Her entire world was upended.  I simply had no words.  I was perplexed. 

And so was she, but she was NOT in despair.

We prayed together with tears rolling down our faces, and it was her voice that broke the sobs saying, “I know regardless of how things look right now that God has a plan for me.”  And there lies the difference between being perplexed and being in despair. It was a powerful moment for me to see the constant faithfulness of God for His children.  It was a real-time example of living “in the power of His resurrection.”

As believers we will all face trials, be persecuted, and have moments of being cast down.  But Paul wants to remind us that God is in control of all of these emotions and that He uses them to manifest His glory through our brokenness.  

Think about it, Paul is writing these hard truths from a prison cell, not from a comfy palace.  And we know he understood affliction firsthand and suffered a host of unbearable hardships:  

Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned; three times shipwrecked, a night and a day I have been in the deep, in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren, in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fasting often, in cold and nakedness besides the other things, what comes upon me daily; my deep concern for all the churches.

2 Corinthians 11: 25-28

Can you imagine enduring just one of these tragic circumstances?  And yet Paul is reminding us that the power of the knowledge of Christ’s death and resurrection allows us to live in victory regardless of our circumstances.  Our God is alive! A powerful testimony for him then; and for us now.  

LIFE GIVING ENCOURAGEMENT

May we never forget that the more we hide God’s Word in our hearts, the more strength we have in our arsenal when things unexpectedly hit us.  We can trust that no matter what we are facing that He is urging us to “be strong and courageous” (Deuteronomy 31:6).  May we never forget that wherever we are at this moment that He will bring us to a place of safety and rescue because we are His delight (Psalm 18:19).

PRAYER

Father, thank you for giving up Your life so that we can have life everlasting.  You alone are our sustainer.  You know what we are made of and You protect us within the knowledge and comfort of Your divine sovereignty. Amen.