Faith in Hard Times 2 Corinthians 4:8-9

Learning to have faith in hard times is one of the most important lessons in any Christian’s life. In this short devotion, we’ll uncover the meaning of 2 Corinthians 4:8-9. And find inspiration and encouragement for faith during hard times.

How do you keep your faith in hard times?

Some days are hard to get through, and I’ve had quite a few of those days lately. We all face tough times. Maybe it’s the little things that add up and drive us crazy. Or maybe we are facing much bigger problems in life. Either way, we can take comfort in God’s promises. He is faithful! And He will show us how to have faith in hard times.

What is the meaning of 2 Corinthians 4:8-9?

God has continued to place this verse from 2 Corinthians 4 in front of me over the past few months. I have been facing a rather large trial in my life and the words that Paul wrote, speak volumes to me.

We’ll start this devotion by reading this scripture together…

We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed-

  2 Corinthians 4:8-9 NKJV

Each of the situations Paul describes in this Bible verse affects us all at some point in our lives. So, let’s take a closer look at this verse and break it down together.

hard-pressed but not crushed…

When I think of being hard-pressed, I imagine being in a trash compactor. The walls are closing in on me and soon I’ll be pressed into a small little box. It’s a feeling of being trapped.

Hard-ships will come in life but with God’s help, we can face them. We may be hard pressed, but He will not allow us to be trapped or crushed by life’s troubles.

perplexed but not in despair…

Have you ever felt so overwhelmed that you just didn’t know what to do next?

I think we’ve all been there. Life can seem so complicated and confusing. There is so much to do and so many things that demand our attention. Sometimes it feels like there is no way out.

Maybe you are dealing with the grief of losing a loved one or struggling at work. Whatever your circumstance, I pray that you will be encouraged. You have a Heavenly Father who loves you. You don’t have to be in despair because God is in control and we can rely on Him fully to see us through these trials.

persecuted but not forsaken…

There are different ways to be persecuted. It can literally mean that someone is trying to hurt you physically, or it can be in the form of a verbal attack. It can also be a general feeling that people don’t like you because of your beliefs. I know in my life I have felt this kind of persecution, sometimes even from people I’m close to. I have been questioned about my faith in Jesus on many occasions. I think questions are a great way to open up a discussion about Jesus, but when that discussion turns ugly, it can be a daunting task to keep it together and not lash out. In these times, I try to remember that I’m in good company. The Bible tells us that every Christian will face some kind of persecution. But the great news is that God promises to never forsake us! We can have complete confidence that He will never leave us!

Read More: Will You Stand Firm in the Faith? 1 Corinthians 16:13

struck down but not destroyed…

Life is hard! Really hard. Sometimes things don’t work out the way we planned and reality hits us hard. When a huge emergency pops up in life, it’s easy to feel like we’ve been struck down. But we are only temporarily knocked down, not knocked out. God is there to pick us up, dust us off and send us back out into the world again. We haven’t been destroyed, we have become stronger.

Trusting God in Hard Times

I have been in each and every one of these situations.

I’ve been hard pressed, perplexed, persecuted, and struck down. I have felt despair and sometimes it has overtaken me completely.

But God has not forgotten me or left me alone to face these trials by myself.

He has shown me His love and He has fulfilled His promise to see me through it every step of the way. And I’m so grateful God has continued to put this verse in front of me over and over again. Every time I read it, I find the strength to face the trials of life and to have faith during hard times.

Read More: 15 Essential Bible Verses about Hope

Keeping Faith in God During Hard Times

Bad times come and go. But learning to keep the faith in the most difficult situations is what the Apostle Paul teaches us through this scripture.

And God wants to take all of the pain and sadness we find along the way and show us how to keep the faith. With His love and encouragement on our side, we can find hope for tomorrow and strength for today!

This is my prayer for you… whatever trial you’re facing right now, you’ll know you are never crushed, in despair, forsaken, or destroyed. God understands life is hard. So, He has given you the promise inside this verse from 2 Corinthians 4. He loves you, He is with you, and He will get you through it!

All you need is a little faith in hard times.

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