2 Corinthians 4:8-9

What Paul wrote to the Corinthian church in 2 Corinthians 4:8-9, he had experienced firsthand throughout his ministry. These were not empty words. Paul proved these words true throughout his life. Consider what he endured.

In Lystra, Jews stirred up the crowd and stoned Paul. They dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. Paul got to his feet, went back into the city, and the next day departed with Barnabas for Derbe. Paul was struck down, but not destroyed. In Corinth, Paul faced intense opposition. The Lord appeared to him in a vision and told him, "Do not be afraid. Keep on speaking. I am with you." He was being pursued, but he was not forsaken.

Paul later listed his other trials: flogged severely, continuously exposed to death, five times receiving forty lashes minus one, three times beaten with rods, once stoned, and three times shipwrecked. Every trial Paul went through was him being pressed, perplexed, pursued, or struck down. Yet through all of it, he was not crushed, did not despair, was not forsaken, and was not destroyed.

How could Paul endure all these trials? He could endure them because he relied on the power of Christ living inside him. Jesus Christ who strengthened Paul is with you today. The same power that protected Paul through beatings, stonings, and shipwrecks protects you today. You may feel pressed, perplexed, pursued, or struck down. Yet, you will not be crushed. You will not despair. You will not be forsaken. You will not be destroyed.

"Pressed on every side, yet not crushed" (θλιβόμενοι ἀλλ' οὐ στενοχωρούμενοι / thlibomenoi all' ou stenochōroumenoi)

"Pressed" is the Greek word thlibō, meaning to press or squeeze, like olives put in a press to produce oil. "Crushed" is the Greek word stenochōreō, which combines stenos (narrow) and chōra (space). The Greek word stenochōreō means to be confined with no way out. Paul is saying that external pressure come towards him from every direction, yet internally he is not confined or trapped. Christ inside him keeps him strong so that the pressure and circumstances cannot influence him.

"Perplexed, yet not to despair" (ἀπορούμενοι ἀλλ' οὐκ ἐξαπορούμενοι / aporoumenoi all' ouk exaporoumenoi)

"Perplexed" is the Greek word aporeō, meaning to be without a way, to have no visible path forward. "Despair" is the Greek word exaporeō, which adds the prefix ex, intensifying it to mean without a way, completely without hope or resource. Paul admits there are times when he does not know what to do next. Yet he never reaches the point of utter hopelessness because he trusts in God to show the Way.

"Pursued, yet not forsaken" (διωκόμενοι ἀλλ' οὐκ ἐγκαταλειπόμενοι / diōkomenoi all' ouk enkatalei pomenoi)

"Pursued" is the Greek word diōkō, meaning to chase or hunt down with hostile intent. "Forsaken" is the Greek word enkataleipō, meaning to leave behind, to abandon in a time of need. Paul was constantly chased by enemies who wanted to silence him. Yet in every city, in every danger, God never left him behind. God was always with him.

"Struck down, yet not destroyed" (καταβαλλόμενοι ἀλλ' οὐκ ἀπολλύμενοι / kataballomenoi all' ouk apollymenoi)

"Struck down" is the Greek word kataballō, meaning to throw down or knock to the ground, like a wrestler thrown by an opponent. "Destroyed" is the Greek word apollymi, meaning to destroy utterly, to bring to complete ruin. Paul was knocked down many times, but being knocked down is not the same as being destroyed. He could not be destroyed by any blow. He got back up because the Christ in him could not be defeated.

I declare that the words of 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 are true in my life.

• I am pressed on every side, yet not crushed.
• I am perplexed, yet not to despair.
• I am pursued, yet not forsaken by God.
• I am struck down, yet not destroyed.

God,

Right now, I feel the pressure from many directions. I feel perplexed with no clear path forward. I am struck down by circumstances beyond my control.

Today, I receive Your promise. Though I am pressed, I am not crushed. Though I am perplexed, I am not in despair. Though I am pursued, You have not forsaken me. Though I am struck down, I am not be destroyed.

I am like a clay jar, but the treasure of Jesus Christ lives inside me. He gives me power to be resilient.

When pressure comes from all sides, remind me that You have left room for me to breathe. When I see no way forward, remind me that You are making a way. When I feel alone and attacked, remind me that You never abandon me.

Guide me not to rely on my own strength but to rely on Your power that never fails.

In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.