“For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again.” II Corinthians 1:8-10 ESV.
Lately, I’ve been tired. More than just the usual “I’ve had a busy day, week, month” kind of tired. This is a tired tied in with caregiving, writing a novel, and unresolved health issues.
I’m in the hurry up and wait mode.
Waiting on doctors. For me. For Mother. Fighting through the weary to try to finally finish the rough draft of my next novel. I struggle from word to word but I know that I can’t wait for inspiration. Or the muse.
I can’t procrastinate any longer. So, I’m slinging words on pages that I might not keep. No matter. I must have words. Around 24,000 to be precise.
The apostle Paul went through so much more than I could ever think. Shipwrecks, stonings, and rejection, to name a few. But when our Pastor read the above passage from II Corinthians 1 last Sunday, I could identify. Phrases like:
- Utterly burdened beyond our strength
- Despaired of life
- Sentence of death
- Deadly peril
Then we came to a phrase that leaped off the page. SET OUR HOPE. Paul said the trials helped them not to rely on themselves but on God. He delivered them more than once from terrible times, and in verse 10, he says, “On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again.”
Delivered again. Paul had a trust; a faith that if he only set his hope on God, he would be delivered once again.
A word for me. For you.
I’ve been through trials before with my health. I’ve helped care for others before. I’ve been stuck with my writing before.
But God …
He delivered me from it all. Did I always get the answers I wanted? No. But God has never left me.
So, I’m setting my hope on God. Once again.
How about you? Can you think back to times when you’ve made it through difficult times?
