The last few days have been full of issues, and there has been little downtime. The moment one problem came, the next one quickly arrived. The moment one appeared solved, it suddenly wasn’t. But isn’t that just life? We all have rough days. Often, we think that our problems are unlike anyone else’s. If people only knew what we were going through, they would feel sorry for us.
Let’s look at the Apostle Paul’s response to rough days.
“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—always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body” (2 Corinthians 4:8-10).
Just what kind of rough days did Paul have?
“…in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness—besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches” (2 Corinthians 11:23-28).
Which one of us has ever endured this kind of suffering? Paul held the title for rough days. No matter the persecution against him, he didn’t need anyone to feel sorry for him. Paul’s concern wasn’t for himself. His concern was for all the churches the Holy Spirit had brought to life through his ministry.
Paul never let his deep concern for the churches be more important than God, the Source of his life. Paul could say he wasn’t crushed, perplexed, or in despair because he was focused on God. He wasn’t focused on what came against him. His purpose and power came from His Father, and no problem could deter him. Paul knew His Father would never forsake him.
When you focus on your problem, you may think God has forsaken you. Perhaps you don’t want to admit this to yourself, but when your problem has more power in your life than God, it is a sign you believe God will not help you. Until you believe in your heart that God loves you so much He will never forsake you, you will have a trust issue.
When you focus on your problem, you miss the Holy Spirit's attempt to lead you through it. Your problem isn’t the source of your life! God is your everlasting, unlimited, and never-forsaking Source! Don’t seek for others to feel sorry for you. They don’t need to see your problem. You need and they need to see your God. Seek the true Source of your life!
“Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 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 has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:1-2).
Do you wish to live rough days, or do you want to live Jesus? Jesus has sat down at His Father’s right hand because His work on your behalf is done. You run a race Jesus has finished. Run your race in the Spirit; you won’t fulfill the flesh’s insatiable need for pity. Run your race in the Spirit, and you will endure. Run your race always looking unto Jesus, and you will not be crushed, perplexed, or in despair! The life of Jesus will be manifested in you!
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