2 Corinthians 1:1-9: "Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints that are in the whole of Achaia: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed (be) the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our affliction, that we may be able to comfort them that are in any affliction, through the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound unto us, even so our comfort also aboundeth through Christ. But whether we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or whether we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which worketh in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: and our hope for you is stedfast; knowing that, as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so also are ye of the comfort. For we would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning our affliction which befell (us) in Asia, that we were weighed down exceedingly, beyond our power, insomuch that we despaired even of life: yea, we ourselves have had the sentence of death within ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raiseth the dead."

In these verses we see a side of the apostle Paul that we do not see in other passages. We see his realization that he had no help from self or any other human source. The tribulation he suffered was of such a nature as to take away all expectation of help, except from God. The burdens of persecution facing him in Asia were so great that he despaired even of life. Here, Paul reveals the magnitude of these burdens and the strength that God supplied, so that these brethren might not be ignorant of these weighty experiences.

We do not know the exact part of the trouble in Asia to which the apostle refers. We do know about his troubles in Ephesus, namely the insurrection raised against him by Demetrius and his fellow silversmiths (Acts 19:23), the Jews' plot to kill him (Acts 20:3), and the fighting with wild beasts (1 Corinthians 15:32). Whatever it was, it was something that caused the apostle to feel "weighed down exceedingly." Literally, he was weighed down beyond what is credible, even beyond what any natural strength could support. The expression denotes excess, eminence, or intensity. By these trials, his life had been endangered, perhaps, more than once. He had been called upon to look calmly into the face of death, and to anticipate the probability that he might soon die. Perhaps, facing the severity of this kind of agony, death would seem to be welcome.

Later, from a Roman prison, Paul wrote, "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if to live in the flesh, (if) this shall bring fruit from my work, then what I shall choose I know not. But I am in a strait betwixt the two, having the desire to depart and be with Christ; for it is very far better." (Philippians 1:21-24) Undoubtedly, this was one of the instances to which he referred in 2 Corinthians 11:23, where he said he had been "in death oft." Paul felt that he was condemned to die; as if he were under sentence of imminent death, with no hope of acquittal; he was called to contemplate the hour of death as just before him.

What changes would it make in us if we viewed death with such reality and nearness? Could it be that this was one cause of Paul's fidelity, and of the great success of his work? Someone has very poetically described Paul's motivation, "He preach'd as though he ne'er would preach again, as a dying man to dying men."

Where then is our strength when we view death as near? Paul said, "Yea, we ourselves have had the sentence of death within ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raiseth the dead." (2 Corinthians 1:9) Trusting in ourselves is equivalent to trusting in things that we see, things that will perish. Paul said, "For our light affliction, which is for the moment, worketh for us more and more exceedingly an eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:17-18) God demonstrated His power when He raised Jesus from the dead (cf. Ephesians 1:19ff). Therefore, Paul could write from a Roman prison, "I can do all things in Him that strengtheneth me." (Philippians 4:13) When troubles are so violent and overwhelming, that there appears to be no hope or help, let us not neglect, nor forget, God's promise: "I will in no wise fail thee, neither will I in any wise forsake thee." (Hebrews 13:5) During times of troubles like Paul's, God alone can help.

Paul's desire for the Corinthians was that they express the same strong confidence in God by praying together for him. "Ye also helping together on our behalf by your supplication; that, for the gift bestowed upon us by means of many, thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf." (2 Corinthians 1:11) We should pray for ourselves and for one another. If we help one another by praying, we may hope for an occasion where many give thanks for answered prayer.

Let us not fail God during times of trouble, but let us continue to express our confidence in the great God who is the source of our strength. For it is He who has the power to raise the dead!

Brother Galloway discusses a real threat to steadfast faith during our time here on earth. Without it, how can we hope to endure life's troubles? They will certainly be more difficult if we attempt to deal with them alone, without God's help. There were many times during the apostle Paul's life when it would have been easier for him to just give up and quit fighting. Yet, whenever Satan sought--through adversity-to destroy his faith, Paul turned to the Lord. He well understood the words he penned in Philippians 3:13. These were not just some encouraging words to the brethren in Philippi, but words by which he lived his own life. Paul was battle-tested and scarred, but he never looked back or gave in to the temptation to throw in the proverbial towel.

God's people need to remember that our strength in not in ourselves but in the One who is greater than all our fears. "That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height--to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us." (Ephesians 3:17-20)

We must not surrender to Satan's ploys to tempt us to doubt God's genuine care and concern for His children-especially during times of adversity and difficulty. Unless we force Him out, God will not leave us alone to fight the onslaught of Satan and his adversaries. Let's be more determined and committed to remember, when the storms of life blow our way (as they will), the One who is in our corner. That will put us in the best position to overcome the difficulty. (KMG)