“We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not drive to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed…” (2 Corinthians 4)
No, these words were not intended for the people of Northern Italy. And no, they were not penned for the people of Brooklyn, Los Angeles, or, most recently, New Orleans. Although this passage seems appropriate for our moment, these words were not initially intended for our context. Paul crafted them as an encouragement to a down-and-out church in Corinth.
The church in Corinth that Paul was shepherding (remotely, as it were…with the help of cutting-edge technology—namely, mail!) had been racked with conflict, division, and difficulties. What’s more, they were aspiring to be the Body of Christ in a world that was hostile to their vision. Paul was no stranger to suffering and hardship himself. A frequent guest in prisons, Paul knew persecution and pain. It is from this vantage point that Paul is encouraging this congregation to remain strong amid the challenges that they face.
Paul goes on to say:
“So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure, because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4)
What we often forget is that the Bible is a record of people who faced hardship and struggle. In fact, some have suggested that we can only hear the Good News of Jesus Christ when we are faced with bad news. For those whom life had dealt a particularly tough hand, the news that God is the Good Shepherd who will care for His people was exceedingly hopeful. It was life-altering good news to learn that God was going to liberate His people from slavery and would welcome them into a land of promise. To every sinner who concluded that they could not save themselves, the truth of God’s love and forgiveness in Jesus was outstanding news!
“So we are always confident; even though we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord— for we walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5)
So no, we do not lose heart because we can see beyond the storm. Paul reminds us that we walk by faith and not by sight. The light that we walk by is not given by the headlines, an executive order, or a report from the CDC. Yes, these sources of information are vital to our understanding of the world around us. But they do not provide us with the hope or assurance that we crave, and that only God can provide. This moment calls for us to walk with confidence, knowing that the God who is right there beside us can see what we cannot.
And what God sees ahead for us is good.