II Corinthians 4:8 “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;”
How dreadful to be “troubled on every side”, “perplexed”, “Persecuted”, and “cast down”; there are times in which the Children of God find themselves in such awful conditions as these! These words paint a picture of dark and doleful times. But, because of our Lord’s loving and providential care, we are “not distressed”, we are “not in despair”, we are “not forsaken”, and neither are we “destroyed”! So, in contrast to such dark misery, our Lord turns on the Bright Light of His Merciful Grace and causes us to rejoice even while the storm is raging around us. He told His Apostles and us that “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33). He is the “good shepherd” (John 10:11,14) and He will never forsake the flock His Father chose in Him and gave to Him “before the foundation of the world” (Ephesians 1:4; John 6:37). This is the Lord that we still worship and plea to in difficult times; He’s still on His Throne, He’s still the Almighty God, He still loves us with a “great love” (Ephesians 2:4), and He still answers “I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save.” (Isaiah 63:1). Furthermore, He is still walking on the water in the midst of our storms (John 6:19); so, let’s keep right on “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2).