2 Corinthians 4:12 (The Message)

“While we’re going through the worst, you’re getting in on the best!”

Everyone hates problems or going through difficult times.  If you can avoid them, you would.  The problem is that it’s inevitable; you will face problems and difficult times in your life!

At a quick glance, this verse will kinda shock you a little bit.  How can you be at your best when you’re going through the worst?  It’s almost an oxymoron; being at the lowest point in life, yet being so high spiritually.  Let’s see if we can make sense of this and learn from what Paul did.  What lesson is he trying to teach us? Or better yet, what lesson does God want us to learn from this?

First of all, you need to understand that God does NOT enjoy when you go through hardships. He’s not having fun watching you suffer.  He is a God of Principles, so we must learn to live by them.  He cares very much for your well-being.  He loves you so much, that He sent His Only Son to die for you on the Cross.  Jesus took every pain, every sickness so you wouldn’t have to go through it.  God wants to travel with you, so, you’re not alone!

Second, in order to go through the worst, you need to have the Best in you. You need to have God in your life.  You will never be able to overcome the circumstances that you face, without the help of God.  Throughout Paul’s hardships, he recognized that God was always by his side.  While the outward person feels like it’s getting a beating, your inward person is being renewed because of Who is inside of you.

Third, learn to be persistent.  We are built to handle whatever situation we are suppose to face.  God made you to be strong.  You were built to take the problem head on and win!  Yes, God knew the struggles you were gonna face, but He built you to be stronger than those things.  You were never built to be defeated by your problems, but to overcome them.  Being persistent means learning how to ride the storms of life.  You were not meant to retreat or to run away.

Fourth, never doubt. A lot of the times we throw in the towel to quickly.  We allow the enemy to win because we have accepted his lies and not God’s Truth.  There’s a constant battle in your mind: to believe or not to believe.  Everyday you are faced with that battle.  But you need to nurture your faith.  That’s why it is important to read your Bible, to have a devotional life, to pray, to attend services, to fast, to do vigils, to worship, etc.  Those are all spiritual exercises that will build up your faith.  But if you listen to negative talk, watch perverted shows, avoid reading the Bible or even prayer, how can you nurture your faith?  You will be nurturing your doubts.  This is important: how you pass through the storms of life will be based on the faith or doubt that you’ve nurtured.

And finally, allow God’s life to be evident in yours. You, by your strength will never be able to overcome anything!  But when you allow God to be real in you, He can do what seems impossible to you.  Your problems are no match for His awesome Power!  There’s nothing that can stop Him.  If He handles your problems, you will be fine…but if you want to do it your way, you will not succeed.

No matter how serious your problem might be, it can never be too great for God to handle.  There’s nothing out of His reach.  So, once again, re-read that verse: “While we’re going through the worst, you’re getting in on the best!” Because it’s not you anymore, but God in you; that’s the only way you’re getting in on the best.  Don’t go through the worst in life without Him.  You will regret every moment of it.  He’s the best at your worst time.  I can guarantee it, you won’t be disappointed.



Filed under: Devotionals by Adilson Chacón