If you’re feeling down and discouraged let me encourage you to reflect with me on 2 Corinthians 1:8-11. Paul says he is almost despairing of life. How did he cope under those circumstances?
While reflecting on these verses I came up with an impact thought. An impact thought is a thought that develops in your mind as you reflect on a portion of scripture. When that happens to me I write down the thought. Then I go back to the portion of scripture and make sure the context supports the impact thought.
Here is the impact thought I came up with while reading 2 Corinthians 1:8-11: Difficulties lead to dependence on God and others, and that leads to deliverance and praise.
Notice closely the 3 times the word “deliver” is found in verse 10. “He delivered us.” “He will deliver us.” “He will continue to deliver us.” Those 3 declarations should give anyone hope to overcome discouragement or despair.
Never forget what God has done for you in the past. Let those remembrances encourage you to trust in Him to do in the present and future what He’s done in the past. To help you in this process of building hope you also need to depend upon the prayers of fellow believers (verse 11). As you and others reflect on the gracious favor of God’s deliverance granted to you in answer to prayer it will be natural to give God thanks for what He has done. So you have the problem, the solution and the result all in these 4 verses.
Remember the impact thought: Difficulties lead to dependence on God and others, and that leads to deliverance and praise.
