“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”
2 Corinthians 4:8-9
Whenever I think of this verse, I think of Anne of Green Gables.
When Anne Shirley first comes to live at Green Gables with Matthew and Marilla, she doesn’t know if she will be allowed to stay. She was sent by mistake when the intention was to take in an orphan boy to help with farm chores. As a rather precocious and dramatic child, Anne announces that she is in the “depths of despair.”
Marilla responds that she has never been in the depths of despair because “to despair is to turn your back on God.”
I’ve spent much of my life wondering at this. Because I think despair is a natural inclination at times (especially if you have a glass half empty kind of personality). But I think it’s important to differentiate between a moment of despair and being completely lost and enveloped in it.
I can look back at some of the most difficult, darkest seasons of my life (some of which are probably documented in posts elsewhere on this site) and I remember the feeling of being pressed and thinking I couldn’t survive.
To quote a new favorite song of mine from the Joshua show at Sight and Sound:
“We know he can, but we don’t know if he will.”
I never doubted God could save me from my predicament and I didn’t doubt the saving power of his grace and mercy. But I definitely wasn’t sure how I was going to get through the situation. I wasn’t abandoned but I sure felt alone at times. I wasn’t in despair but I couldn’t see a way forward through the struggle and pain.
I know my experience of suffering is minimal compared to many others. My faith looks tiny by comparison. But I know I’ve been made my stronger through the things I’ve faced.
May we be aware of his presence even when we feel abandoned.
May may we trust faith over sight when the fog of pain is thick
And may we come to better understand his sufferings amidst our own.
If you enjoyed this Five Minute Friday post, check out the other people free writing on the word ABANDON
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