Finding Purpose in Pressure: Relying on God

Let keep digging into 2 Corinthians;“For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again.”2 Corinthians 1:8-10 Why would God allow me to experience extended periods of weakness and pressure that feels heavy enough to break me? What might be his purpose? Paul said that this helped him to not rely on himself but rather the Grace of God. I can dig that...and I believe it. Too often I fail to recognize the Lord’s training in the hardships I face. Instead, I often assume that the hard times are a result of my failures or an enemy attack. But God is bigger than both my failures and the enemy’s efforts. I’m never in a hard place because God is helpless against its cause. I am in a hard place for my good and his glory. Try and give God the glory for bringing good from bad and allowing you to experience his strength in your weakness. Be nice. Grace wins.