Introduction

Hey there, church family! We've got an interesting talk lined up today, something I think we can all relate to on some level. We're going to be chatting about trials, struggles, and testimonies...and not just any testimonies, but those that come right from the trenches of life's hardest moments.

I was reading through a book by C.S. Lewis that I greatly admire. He said something that really stuck with me. Lewis wrote, "We can ignore even pleasure. But pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world." Isn't that something? Pain, trials, struggles... they're not just hardships. They're God's way of getting our attention, of communicating with us in a world that's often too noisy to hear His whispers.

So, with that in mind, let's look at our Scripture passage for today. It's from 2 Corinthians 4:8-9, and it reads: "We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body." It's a powerful passage, isn't it? It speaks of hardship and pain, but also of resilience and hope.

Embracing Trials

When we think about the trials we face in life, our instinct is often to shy away, to avoid them at all costs. But what if we were to change our perspective? What if, instead of seeing trials as something to be feared, we saw them as opportunities? Opportunities to grow, to learn, to become stronger in our faith.

Imagine, for a moment, a piece of coal. Under normal circumstances, it's just a black, dirty rock. But under pressure, under intense heat, it transforms into something beautiful, something valuable. It becomes a diamond. In the same way, our trials, our struggles, can transform us. They can shape us into stronger, more resilient individuals.

This is not to say that trials are easy. Far from it. They can be incredibly painful and challenging. But it's through this pain, this challenge, that we grow. Just as a muscle needs to be broken down to become stronger, so too do we need to face trials to grow in our faith.

Now, let's take a closer look at what Paul means when he mentions being hard-pressed on every side. This could be pressure from our circumstances, from the people around us, from our own doubts and fears. But despite this pressure, Paul says that we are not crushed. We are not defeated. We are not overwhelmed. This is because we have a source of strength that is greater than any trial we may face. We have God.

When we feel the pressure of life pressing in on us, we must turn to God for strength. We can lean on Him, rely on Him, trust in Him. And when we do, we find that we are not crushed. We are not defeated. We are not overwhelmed. We are resilient. We are strong.

Next, Paul talks about being perplexed, but not in despair. This speaks to the confusion, the uncertainty that often comes with trials. We may not understand why we're facing a particular trial, or what we're supposed to learn from it. We may feel lost, unsure of where to turn or what to do. But despite this confusion, despite this uncertainty, Paul says that we are not in despair. We do not lose hope.

This is because we have a source of hope that is greater than any trial we may face. We have God. When we face trials, when we feel confused or uncertain, we can turn to God for guidance. We can seek His wisdom, His direction, His peace. And when we do, we find that we are not in despair. We do not lose hope. We are confident. We are hopeful.

Then, Paul talks about being persecuted, but not abandoned. This speaks to the opposition, the hostility that we may face when we follow God. We may be mocked, ridiculed, even persecuted for our faith. But despite this opposition, despite this hostility, Paul says that we are not abandoned. We are not alone.

This is because we have a companion who is greater than any trial we may face. We have God. When we face trials, when we feel opposed or persecuted, we can turn to God for comfort. We can seek His presence, His love, His reassurance. And when we do, we find that we are not abandoned. We are not alone. We are supported. We are loved.

Finally, Paul talks about being struck down, but not destroyed. This speaks to the setbacks, the failures that we may experience in life. We may stumble, fall, even fail in our attempts to follow God. But despite these setbacks, despite these failures, Paul says that we are not destroyed. We are not defeated. We have God. When we face trials, when we stumble or fall, we can turn to God for restoration.

Finding Strength in Struggles

In the midst of our struggles, we often find an untapped reservoir of strength ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO