Surrounded On Every Side
“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 NIV
Throughout the Bible, we see evidence of God using trials and hardships to draw people closer to Him. Jacob was hard pressed on every side as he wrestled with God but not crushed. Moses was perplexed by God’s plan to free the Israelites from Pharaoh but it did not result in despair. David was persecuted by Saul but not abandoned by God. Paul was struck down for proclaiming the Gospel but not destroyed. How can we learn from our ancestors and persevere through trials?
A.B. Simpson suggests that, “difficulties and obstacles are God‘s challenges to our faith. When we are confronted with hindrances that block our path of service, we are to recognize them as vessels for faith, and then to fill them with the fullness and complete sufficiency of Jesus.“ What an enlightening concept! What a powerful reframe of life’s challenges, viewing our problems as vessels for faith. It takes the focus off of our problems and back onto God. While enlightening, I found it challenging to implement.
Not my first response
Unfortunately when difficulties and obstacles come, I confess my first response isn’t always to remember the “complete sufficiency of Jesus” or view them as opportunities to grow. Instead my head is flooded with worst case scenarios and fears about what will happen now. I immediately begin to assess the situation, the resources and the options I have to help. My anxiety begins to grow when my external needs feel greater than my internal resources. This is me filling my vessel with earthly means instead of the “complete sufficiency of Jesus”. If you can relate, know there’s hope for both of us to learn a new path.
Trials as vessels for faith
Viewing trials as opportunities to grow in our faith is an important mindset shift. However, it can be hard to cling to God throughout especially when the challenges you’re facing continue on year after year. Maybe you’re enduring: a chronic illness, a difficult or destructive marriage, caring for a child with disabilities, complex mental health challenges, the death of a loved one, ongoing financial struggles, etc. I remember what it feels like to be in those dark places. Clinging to God, standing on His promises, and hoping in Him is what got me through AND it was also hard. Both things can be true. Having faith doesn’t mean it makes it easy. It means you’re relying on God’s resources instead of your own to meet the needs of the day.
The complete sufficiency of Jesus
God is not bound by time, energy and resources like we are. He operates outside of space and time and can do anything. Sometimes it might feel like God isn’t hearing your prayers or that you’ve not prayed hard enough since your situation hasn’t been resolved. This is where trusting in the complete sufficiency of Jesus to see us through becomes paramount. I know what it’s like to pray and pray and pray for an outcome that never comes to fruition. While the outcome I prayed for didn’t come to be, what happened was far beyond anything I could have come up with on my own.
You see, I’m a finite being with limited understanding. While God is infinite and working behind the scenes weaving our lives together in ways we can’t see. Therefore in order to know and understand the complete sufficiency of Jesus, it requires us to let go of the outcome so that God can fill our vessels of faith however He sees fit. It’s hard to let go and I don’t always want to let go. But when I take my hands off of controlling the outcome, that’s where God does His best work.
Reflection Questions:
- Who or what do you turn to first when difficulties come?
- Do you view trials as vessels for faith? Why or why not?
- Do you struggle to let go of the outcome and trust in the complete sufficiency of Jesus?
- How might God be challenging you to respond differently?