One of the great things about the letters of the apostle Paul is that he describes our human experiences so very well. Here is what vulnerability sounds like in real life…
II Corinthians 4:7
7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.
8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;
9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.
11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body.
12 So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.
13 It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak,
14 because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself.
15 All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.
16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Reflections
Pick one verse from this passage and memorize it. Repeat it, let it be a word of hope and encouragement.
Yes, we face hardships in this life. Yes, we face darkness and death and criticism, but we do not despair, for the power of God is at work within us, and the glory of God is being revealed through Jesus Christ our Lord. Praise God for his mighty acts of our salvation!
Prayer
Eternal God, who is from before the beginning and who goes on forever into the future, fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen, not merely on what is temporary but also that which is eternal: the loving Lordship of your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
