Day 19 – Resilient Faith

2 Corinthians 4:7-9

We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.

We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.

As I watched the demise of the first cricket match between Australia and India drawing to a close, I reflected upon the struggles we all go through. You may not be a cricket fan, but we can all understand moments of disappointments and challenges in life! The highs and lows of the Australian cricket team are nothing compared to the struggles that the apostle Paul endured. The apostle Paul understood the hardships of life and in 2 Corinthians 11:24-27, he lists his trials of being in prison, flogged, stoned almost to death, beaten 40 lashes, and shipwrecked. Paul knew what it was to have a hard time. Yet Paul is also a great example to us of a life lived with faith.

Paul understood that following Jesus would entail trials, persecution and hardships. In 2 Corinthians 4:7 Paul uses the imagery the jars of clay to emphasise that God uses the humble and broken creation to manifest His glory. Paul endured these many struggles because of the great treasure he carried, the gospel. It was God’s great power that enabled him to endure all this.

So, Paul is encouraging the reader to persevere through their trials because of the future glory that is coming in Christ. He presents an eternal perspective to our present trials which in light of eternity won't last very long. If there is one lesson we can learn about resilient faith it is to live our lives with an eternal perspective. That is how Paul lived. And because of this, he had great faith that endured through the seasons.

“So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever” 2 Corinthians 4:18

Family Discussion Questions

1. What other Bible characters endured trials and suffering that can teach us an encouraging lesson?

2. What challenges are you going through now? What do you think God is trying to show you through this challenge?

Response - Pray

Lord, I thank you that you have given me faith to follow you. Give me strong faith that will endure in every season, so that my life may glorify you. Ame