“Overwhelment”
We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. 2 Corinthians 1:8-9
The question in not, “Do you ever get so overwhelmed with life’s pressures and stressors you begin to despair and ‘wig out’?” Rather, the question is “What do you do when, like the apostle Paul, life’s pressures and stressors are so overwhelming you question your ability to endure?” What an amazing gift this passage is for those of us who may be in just such a season of “overwhelment.”
First of all, take heart that such a man of faith, as Paul, felt no need to minimize his emotional state. The pressures upon him were so great he felt like he was going to die. The gospel doesn’t condone posing and pretending. Secondly, Paul didn’t “hoard” his hardships. He informed his friends in Corinth so they would pray. We fulfill the law of Christ when we bear one another’s burdens. Only pride keeps us from sharing our struggles with one another. Thirdly, Paul didn’t spend fruitless arrogant energy demanding to know why these great difficulties were happening to him. Rather he focused on unto what end he was experiencing so much stress-that he might not rely on himself but upon God who raises the dead!
Paul always brings everything back to the gospel! God raised Jesus from the dead, not only to rescue us from our unrighteousness and our self-righteousness, but also from our self-reliance. None of us is the 4th member of the Trinity. Whatever your state of “overwhelment,” you are not meant to carry the load alone. Humble yourself, share your story with some of the brethren, and trust your Father who makes a garden out of graves!
