4. 2 Corinthians 1:9-10

Slide 4 of 4

“Indeed we felt as if the sentence of death had been passed against us, so that we would not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead. He delivered us from so great a risk of death, and he will deliver us. We have set our hope on him that he will deliver us yet again.” (NET)

No matter what we face in life, chronic pain, cancer, job loss, death of a loved one, a broken relationship, the despair can multiply if it occurs during a season of mental illness. The world can quickly come crashing down, making us feel utterly hopeless.

In Paul’s letter to the church at Corinth he described a situation in which he and his companions were certain they would die. Paul explained that even though they felt this crushing despair, it was so he would come to rely on God alone. God alone can save, God alone can raise the dead.

When we feel lost in despair, whether from our circumstances or from mental illness, God is the only one who can offer us hope.

God delivered Paul and his companions. I can testify He has delivered me time and again.

Scripture is full of examples of God delivering His people when they faced the impossible. He is the God who delivers. He can deliver you. Deliverance may not look exactly like we think it should or come immediately, but it indeed will come. He has delivered us. He will deliver us again. No matter what we’re facing, we can place our hope in His promises.

When depression and anxiety come like a flood, we can remember God’s power and His promises. When we are unable to stand on our own, when we feel isolated and have given all we have, Jesus can still bring healing.

When the darkness is overwhelming, we can trust God to work in our situation and even give us treasures in the darkest seasons. And when we feel despair to the point of death, our God alone is the one who delivers us. We can always turn to Him.

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