We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters,  about the trouble we went through… We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead. And he did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us. And you are helping us by praying for us.  2 Corinthians 1: 8-11 NLT

It is often said that the Lord does not give us more than we can bear. However, there are times in your life that you feel that the pressure is so great that you under the strong belief that you are being targeted for death and you will never live through it. Over 20 years ago I experienced my first major crushing and feeling of being overwhelmed. Here is what happened:

I was awoken one day by shocks all over my body. It felt like someone had put my body inside the electrical socket and left me there. To this day the pain is indescribable. The shocks over day turned to debilitating as I lost power in my hands and upper body and was soon diagnosed with a prolapsed disc in my neck. This meant that the bones in that part of the spine were making a sandwich of those nerves!!!. How can I say crushed and overwhelmed? The pain was so great I was in a wheelchair for a short period and had to wear a stiff collar around my neck to reduce motion and pain. The doctor prescribed bed rest, physical therapy and high intensity meds. I was unable to work, write, drive, study (I was a student at the time too ) to the point that I could not even comb my own hair. I had to scream to distract myself from the other more intense pain, just to come off the bed. I remember my Mom of blessed memory, having to help me navigate the basic functions of life including bathing, cutting my dumplings and drinking from a straw. My close friend (now husband) would come by when he could to carry me to my doctors’ appointments and even for the occasional ice-cream or movie. One of the memories that sticks most in my mind was a trip to Dunn’s River Falls with my parents and my sister. I was so weak that my Mom and Dad had to support me on either side and my sister was behind me pushing me up the hill. I even remember being asked by God if I would serve him if all I could do is blink. I sometimes wondered and felt like I was going to die. It was during this time I learnt to pray more intimately and had to learn the lesson that everyone has to learn at some point or the other: dependence, relying on others to assist me. I could not rely on myself as my judgement was impaired.

Looking back, over twenty years later, I have been through so many near death experiences, but I know for certain that God has always raised me from the dead and taught me not to rely on myself but only on God himself and the praying people he has provided to literally be his hands and feet in my life.

So are you feeling despair even to the point of death? Crushed AND OVERWHELMED ? Are you at the point where you have to depend on others to assist you? Take heart and comfort from “the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles…”(2 Corinthians 1:3-5). God wants you to learn the lesson of replying only on Him and not on yourself. In this time where everything is overwhelming and crushing to the spirit, we have to stop to get our souls restored, rely on and place our confidence in Christ who rescues us from danger again and again. It does not matter whether the danger is physical: e.g. Covid-19, mental: e.g. depression, emotional: e.g. fear or spiritual e.g. wickedness in high places., Jesus Christ has conquered them all. According to Ephesians 1: 20-24, God raised Jesus “from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God put everything under His feet and made Him head over everything for the church” (Berean Study Bible). Whatever we are facing, let us rely on our God “to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair” (Isaiah 61:2-3). We claim this O Lord.

Prayer

Father we come to you crushed and overwhelmed, at the end of ourselves. Surround us with your comfort so that our ashes, mourning and despair can be transformed by the power that raised Jesus from the dead into a crown of beauty, the oil of joy and the garment of praise. In Jesus’ name we pray Amen.