Struck Down, But

'But' is a really short, really powerful word. It completely transforms the trajectory of a sentence; it can turn an optimistic perspective into a realist, or change pessimism into the brighter side of the situation. Which, actually, when you think about how bad we tend to be at that as human beings, it's rather extraordinary. 

My favourite verses of the Bible are found in 2 Corinthians 4:7-9:

7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 

There's something about the acknowledgement of pain here that does not downplay the situation at all, yet still the trajectory is towards Jesus and light. 

These were the first verses that gave me hope before I really knew Jesus. Being struck down, but not destroyed. Hard pressed, but not crushed. It felt relatable having struggled with my mental health, and I recognised that there was truth here - I was not destroyed. Why was that? What is the actual light in this darkness?

We're told later in 2 Corinthians:

16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

It maybe wasn't precisely accurate to my situation at the time, but I came to know the eternal glory and what is unseen through it. Christians no longer seemed perfect, but they were broken too. Only they were sustained by God which made such a difference. 

Church, let's share in triumph and struggle through the pandemic mayhem the world is currently facing. 

Friends, you are allowed to be 'struck down', but you are not, and never will be 'destroyed'.

Take care

'But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me' 2 Corinthians 12:9