2 Corinthians 1

V. 8-11, More than we can endure so we must rely on God

There are some things in life that you just can’t do on your own, you must depend upon someone else to be able to do them. I googled “things you can not do by yourself” and here are some of the things that made the list. Get a hug, make a baby, sing a duet, play football, seesaw, talk on the phone, gossip, water ski (someone must drive the boat), sky dive (someone must fly the plane), etc. There are plenty of things in this world that are impossible to do on your own, but Paul seems to imply in these verses that sometimes we endure things to difficult for us to handle just so we realize we must depend upon God for deliverance. He said they where under great persecution in Asia that was far beyond what they could naturally endure but the reason they had received this proverbial death penalty is so they couldn’t rely on their self for victory. It forced them to depend upon God, a power that far surpasses what the natural man can conjure up through shear will power and effort.

We learned in 1 Corinthians 10:13 that God will never allow us to be tempted beyond what we are able to endure, meaning we are never in a no-win situation. But the fact of the matter is, sometimes the only way we can overcome and endure is through the supernatural intersession of God on our behalf. We see it all throughout scripture; there is no way David beats Goliath straight up in a fight without God’s help. Daniel doesn’t walk out of the lion’s den unharmed if God wasn’t on his side. Paul doesn’t walk away from being stoned to death if God doesn’t touch him in that moment. You may find yourself in a situation where you see no way of escape or that there is no hope. The truth is you can’t do it on your own, you need God’s hand of provision to see your through. Stop relying on yourself for the answer and start seeking God to move on your behalf. Paul said in verse 10, “On Him we have set our hope that He will continue to deliver us.” He did it for Paul and the apostles and He will do it for you as well.