2 Corinthians 1 Devotions by Stephen Taylor

2 Corinthians 1:8,9

We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.

Wait a minute; I thought God would never give us more than we can handle?! Close but not true; God will never give us more than we can handle in Him! And Paul shares with us the reasoning for this. It's so that we rely on God and not ourselves. If we could handle every situation on our own, then we would be less likely to turn to the Lord. We would just toughen up and handle it, but that's not what God wants or how He created us. He didn't create us to be self-sufficient or strong outside of Him but to be totally dependent upon Him.

The Creator of all things wants that personal relationship with you and me. God doesn't call us to handle our problems on our own but to hand them over to Him and rest at His feet. Paul puts it beautifully when he says that His strength is found in his weakness. He says this, meaning that once we come to the end of ourselves and realize that outside of Christ, we are weak and defenseless, then we rely fully upon Him, and those who trust in the Lord will never be put to shame. This doesn't mean that we sit around and do nothing but that we actively and eagerly seek and surrender to Christ. Let the One who created power and strength be our power and strength!

1 Corinthians 10:13- No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

That way out is through Him, His Son, and His Spirit! Let your eyes adjust to the truth, and then look for His leading!

God bless! I love you all in part, but He loves you in full! Glory, Honor, and Praise now and forever to Papa God, Jesus Christ the Truth, and the Holy Spirit!