Since childhood I've had a fear for the future. My thinking has often gone along these lines: 'So much has already gone wrong in my life, there's surely going to be much more that goes wrong in the future.' This thinking is fuelled by fear, and promotes more fear, fear about the future.
We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.' (2 Cor 1:8-11 NIV)
The apostle Paul faced a lot of suffering and trauma. Sometimes his suffering was so bad that he despaired of life itself (2 Cor 1:8). But he believed one of the reasons for this was that he would not rely on himself but on God (v.9).
Paul reflected on how God had delivered him from these trials, and that he would again in the future, 'He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us.' (v.10). Paul's experience has made him intentional about trusting God for the future, for he says, 'On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us' (v.10). For Paul getting through suffering is not just about getting through it, but is about then learning to continue to trust God for future suffering.
Here I see the need to reflect on what God has done in the past, and how it shows he will get me through any future sufferings too.
However, for Paul to get through future trials, he knows that this is also dependant on the prayers of others, 'On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers.' (v.11).
So, to guard against fear for the future, I see the need for the following:
1) Reflect on how God has got me through past suffering
2) Based on this reflection, trust that he will get me through any future suffering
3) Ask for pray, build up prayer support, people who will be faithful in prayer during times of suffering.
4) Reflect on how this process helps me to rely on God instead of myself.
Here's a sermon I preached recently on these verses:
Here's a sermon I preached recently on these verses:
