Power and Pain

READ: 2 CORINTHIANS 1:1-5; 6:3-10; 10:3-5

"God won’t give you more than you can handle,” many well-meaning people have said. However, when you’re going through that dark night of the soul—such as the death of a loved one, an unexpected diagnosis, or other deep pain—this saying does not ring true. Why does God allow these hard things we don’t, and may never, understand? Is He even still good?

Whenever I read the words of the apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 6, I feel comforted. He endured so many hard things for the sake of Christ, including beatings, prison time, and hunger. Instead of making light of his trials, Paul acknowledged them for what they were: painful!

But what gave Paul the endurance and the ability to stand up under his troubles? The answer is in verse 7: “the power of God.” He relied on God to give him strength.

As children of God, we belong to Jesus. Paul says we have His power to demolish strongholds. We have the Holy Spirit’s help to take our every thought captive and make them obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:3-5). Even though Satan would like to keep us in our place of pain, sorrow, and discouragement, he doesn’t have the final word—because Jesus Christ has defeated sin and death through His own death and resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:12-26; 1 Peter 2:22-25).

Perhaps you feel like Paul felt many times, beaten and broken. Be encouraged, for you are not alone. If you know Jesus, He has given you His power and He is with you! • Savannah Coleman

• You or someone you love may be in a place of deep pain and sorrow right now. We live in a broken, sin-filled world, and God never promised an easy life, but He did promise that He will be with us always (Matthew 28:20). How could it be comforting to know that Jesus, the God of the universe who went to the cross for you, will never leave or abandon you? (Deuteronomy 31:8)

• Do you ever feel like God doesn’t want to hear about your troubles and your pain? God loves you and wants you to share the good, the bad, and the ugly—your joys, and even your cries of anger (1 Peter 5:7). What are some things weighing on you that you’d like to share with God?

• The Bible never says, “God won’t give you more than you can handle.” The closest verse we have is 1 Corinthians 10:13, which is about God providing a way to withstand every temptation. When we hear sayings that don’t ring true, how can we examine the Bible for ourselves?

By the word of truth, by the power of God; through weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left. 2 Corinthians 6:7 (CSB)