Victory: Perplexed But Not in Despair

Wednesday, May 9, 2018

We are afflicted in every way but not crushed;
we are perplexed but not in despair;
we are persecuted but not abandoned;
we are struck down but not destroyed.
II Corinthians 4:8-9

Have you ever been perplexed -- truly dumbfounded, puzzled or speechless about something? I think the Apostle Paul felt that way. After his conversion, he dedicated his life to spreading the gospel to all parts of the world. He is credited for starting at least 14 churches which include those in Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea, Colossae, Hieropolis, Ephesus, Rome, Corinth, and Galatia.

It seemed that whenever he left a region after having established a church there, someone would come in behind him and confuse the believers. They would challenge his authority and pervert the Gospel. 

As a result, Paul wrote letters to various churches addressing all sorts of issues they were having. Sometimes you can hear it in his tone as he is writing these new Christians. Take Galatians 4:11 for instance: 

I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.

That sounds like a man who is ready to throw up his hands and give up. But he didn't. He was perplexed but not in despair.

And the churches that he started went on to start who-knows-how-many other churches as a result.

Lord, no matter what perplexes us today, help us to look to you for encouragement. We claim your victory over Satan. We know that you are not the author of despair but of hope and joy. And we trust that you will be glorified through our efforts. 

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