It Was Overwhelming But We Learnt A lot

2 Corinthians 1:8
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.
2 Corinthians 1:9
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.

No one likes to be overwhelmed by anything unless it is a very good experience. To be overwhelmed means it is beyond your abilities. You can’t handle it. Your best efforts can’t contain it. You are overwhelmed. To be overwhelmed is to be totally defeated. It was overwhelming but we learned a lot!

Apostle Paul is explaining to the Corinthian church the problem they went through. A Christian should be able to persevere any problem. A Christian should be patient when trouble strikes since eventually, God will save him or her. However, the troubles Paul and others experienced in Asia were so great. Paul admits that the problems were beyond their ability to endure. The troubles were so great that they were sure they would die. They did not see any possibility of salvation. They were overwhelmed.

The troubles were so great that none of them even saw which miracle would get them out of it. The troubles were so great that praying for salvation seemed like a waste of prayer. It seemed too late to be saved. It seemed like one was tempting God if they prayed for salvation from that situation. It was so bad, that faith required accepting death. They were overwhelmed!

Paul says it was like they had received a death sentence. To receive a death sentence means investigations are finished. The case is concluded. The appeals have been heard. The death sentence is the last thing and no more. Paul says they felt like they had received a death sentence. There was no chance of appeal or evidence changing their sealed fate. They had received a death sentence. It was over for them. They were overwhelmed!

When the only business we depended on fails and we have no further ideas or capital, we get overwhelmed. When at an advanced age we get rejected by a fiancee, we get overwhelmed. It is too late to start again. We are overwhelmed. When after a series of medication and visits to various medical experts and facilities and the symptoms keep recurring, we get overwhelmed. When we keep failing a certain subject in school and then the last chance to repeat it we still fail, we get overwhelmed. Apostle Paul and companions got overwhelmed!

When loved ones die one after another and it seems death has unfairly targeted your family, it is overwhelming. When a dear one, a very dear one dies or gets seriously sick, it is overwhelming. When you are unfairly treated and all attempts to rescue yourself fail and it seems impunity reigns supreme, it is overwhelming. When no prayers or pleas can stop your tormentors and it seems they must have their way as God seems to have abandoned you, it gets overwhelming. When you fast and pray earnestly until you hope that God will come through, then suddenly what happens is a failure, loss, and disappointment, it is overwhelming. You do not even know how to pray or even why to pray anymore. Paul and his companions were overwhelmed!

As Paul explains the overwhelming situation, we sympathize and anxiously hope he explains what exact kind of troubles they received. Instead of dwelling on details of their overwhelming situation, Paul suddenly changes tune and direction with the word, but. That word, but, means that what follows is completely opposite and different from what has been narrated. He narrated an overwhelming situation, but, that word, but, means we are moving from being overwhelmed to being in control. We were overwhelmed but…

Paul declares that they were overwhelmed for a reason. They were overwhelmed not because they did not pray enough. They were overwhelmed not because they missed some worship services. They were overwhelmed not because they did not study the Bible. They were overwhelmed not because they lacked faith. They were overwhelmed so that they stop relying on themselves but on God. It was overwhelming but we learned a lot!

When you get overwhelmed it means you have nothing that can handle the situation. You have no resources within you equal to the task. When you get overwhelmed one thing becomes clear, how incompetent you are. When you get overwhelmed, attention turns from what you can do, because there is nothing you can do, to what God can do. When you get overwhelmed, one great lesson is delivered, just trust God. You have no alternative but to trust God. You have nothing else to do but to trust God. You are covered by circumstances and you have surrendered yourself to God so that He does what He chooses best. When you are overwhelmed, you fully turn from self to God. It was overwhelming but we learned a lot!

Paul and his companions were overwhelmed and they concluded that death was their portion and now they trusted God who will resurrect them from the dead. They gave up on life and let God deal with it since God could raise the dead. There are situations that only God can handle. When you get overwhelmed, only God can handle it. That is the greatest lesson. It was overwhelming but we learned a lot!

Isaiah 6:1
In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple.

When the death of King Uzziah overwhelmed Isaiah, he saw the LORD. When it is overwhelming, money becomes useless, power and position lose value. Friends disappear and relatives become unreliable. When we get overwhelmed only God becomes reliable and clearly visible. When a significant death struck Israel and Isaiah was overwhelmed, he saw the LORD. May we see the LORD when we get overwhelmed!

When you are overwhelmed you see God and His power in a clearer way. When you are overwhelmed and you survive it, your relationship with God grows in a manner that will be irrefutable. When you get overwhelmed you will become a comfort to those who will be overwhelmed in the future. When you get overwhelmed, you will not take credit for what God has done, you will just give Him glory, all the glory. It was overwhelming but we learned a lot!

Dear God, save us from overwhelming situations, but if they must come, may we learn to fully trust You who can raise the dead and reverse what now seems irreversible, in Jesus’ name, Amen!

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