He will continue to deliver us.
We’ve come to the last day of our series, seven reasons God allows circumstances too hard for us to handle. I hope you’ve enjoyed it so far.
The king of circumstances too hard to handle, is undoubtedly the apostle Paul.
He gives a summary in 2 Corinthians 11:24-28 NIV:
Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. I have laboured and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.
During one of his missions, Paul said they suffered “far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself.” – 2 Corinthians 1:8 NIV
But he goes on to say that:
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 deliver us again. On Him we have set our hope that He will continue to deliver us. – 2 Corinthians 1:9-10 NIV
Paul also dealt with a thorn in his flesh and begged God three times to remove it (2 Corinthians 12:7-8).
God’s answer was, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV).
Paul learned to boast not in his strength, but in his weakness, because that’s when the power of Christ rested on him. He said:
For when I am weak, then I am strong. – 2 Corinthians 12:10 NIV
God allows circumstances too hard for us to handle so that in our utter weakness, we experience God’s power.
Do you feel weak? God is your strength! Like Paul, set your hope on God, who will continue to deliver you.
