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bigmike

2 Corinthians 1:8 (NLT) 8 We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it.
As Paul penned these words, he wanted the people to understand the desperation they had faced while in Asia.
He did this, not to garner sympathy, but to make known how bad it really was.
He stated that they were crushed and overwhelmed beyond their ability to endure it.
They quite literally thought they would never make it out; they thought they would die.
Knowing this, why would he write this? Why would he paint such a dire image for the Corinthians to read?
Paul did not have impure motives. He was being brutally honest in his presentation of the events that had unfolded.
He spoke these words with a purpose; to show God’s faithfulness, and His ability to rescue them from certain death.
Read what he had to say in verse 9!
2 Corinthians 1:9 (NLT) 9 In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead.
Amid this dire situation, they learned to stop relying on themselves, and to rely only on God, who raises the dead.
What a lesson for us to learn from Paul!
While facing terrible trials, aren’t we all guilty of relying on ourselves; doing everything we know to do before we finally surrender and rely on God; the One who raises the dead?
This is not unique to us. Even Paul admitted his shortcomings in this.
Let us learn from Paul’s words and his experiences, that we might stop relying on ourselves, and start relying on God; the One who raises the dead and is able to do abundantly more than we can think or ask.
Ephesians 3:20-21 (NKJV) 20 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, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

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