Read 2 Corinthians 4:8–12

During adversity, we can easily lose perspective. We can act like Chicken Little, who thought the sky was falling when an acorn conked him on the head! Life can catch us off guard and we can quickly overreact to our situation.

Try putting yourself and your own circumstances and trials into Paul’s constant affirmations of faith.

If anyone should’ve sounded the “sky is falling” alarm it was the Apostle Paul. But his words demonstrate a different perspective on hard times:

We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies. Yes, we live under constant danger of death because we serve Jesus, so that the life of Jesus will be evident in our dying bodies. So we live in the face of death, but this has resulted in eternal life for you. (2 Corinthians 4:8–12)

You may have read Paul’s words just now and thought to yourself, “That sounds like the week I’ve just had!” Or perhaps, on a more serious note, you are literally facing death and possibly the end of your days. Please don’t miss what God intends for you. He wants you to lean into your trials and in that leaning find your strength and courage in Him. Jesus has been there...and in more painful and deeper ways than you can imagine. So even in death, His life can shine in us for His glory. Let it shine, let it shine!

Devotional content taken from Good Morning, Lord...Can We Talk? by Charles R. Swindoll. Copyright © 2018. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, a Division of Tyndale House Ministries. All rights reserved.

The full devotional can be purchased at https://www.tyndale.com/p/good-morning-lord-can-we-talk/9781414380681.