Pressure! Pressure and MORE pressure.
Seems anymore the letups are few and far in between. At least, it sure FEELS that way.
Gets down right despairing at times. TRUE despair, that is.
I identify all too easily with Paul and all the others who comprised the "we" that are mentioned in II Corinthians 1:8b, "We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired EVEN of life."
Now – THAT’S despair! And I recognize it from my own life's trail.
Verses 9 and 10 go on to say that in their hearts (their inner most being) "they felt the sentence of death."
Wow - heavy duty.
And then it says, "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. On Him we have set our HOPE that He will CONTINUE to deliver us."
Seems to me, their - as well as my own - despair comes when I'm relying on myself (verse 9b) and NOT on God. As I set my hope (verse 10b) on Him, He will bring deliverance in accordance to that which pleases Him. HE is my hope.
I wonder? Is MY love and commitment to Him conditional, depending on MY terms of deliverance?
