QT 6/23/2025 2 Cor 11:22-27, Dealing with worries

2 Corinthians 11:22–27 (ESV) —

22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they offspring of Abraham? So am I. 23 Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. 24 Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; 26 on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; 27 in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.

 

NOTE: It is pretty clear, Paul does not want to share these details, but they have a good purpose. It is not to build him up, but to show that these false apostles have no claims to apostolic authority on the basis of works.

 

Obviously, this is not the prosperity gospel (or health and wealth as some call it). I reject very strongly the false teachers who promote health and wealth as God's promise. What encourages me is to see how many times Paul says "danger," eight times! When you are in danger, it is natural to feel depressed and alone and worried. When you feel safe, you are relaxed, calm, and happy. We all struggle with worries. I have some particular worries that I have been carrying for months now. I have given them over to the Lord, quoting 1 Pet 5:7, Phil 4:6,7 and other verses. And yet, the worry remains.

 

1 Peter 5:7 (ESV) — … casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

 

Philippians 4:6–7 (ESV) — 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

 

I believe that God is in charge. I believe God will take care of events in my life. But it is still difficult (and very human) to worry. My days of stoic responses to life are long gone. I do believe that God will help me through danger, and I also struggle with worries. Paul said just as much, "… apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches …." Is it any surprise that Paul calls out,

 

2 Corinthians 11:29 (ESV) — Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant?

 

It is okay to struggle in the human flesh. It is important to remind ourselves of God's promises. But, we are not failures if the promises don't seem to take the worries away.

 

PONDER:

1. What are my worries, have I given them to the Lord?
2. Do I struggle with faith, even after giving my worries away? So did Paul, but we don't quit, we continue in trust.

 

PRAYER: Father, there is an answer on the horizon to one of my worries that has been eating away at me for months. It's funny, I want to protect myself from disappointment and yet I also want to rejoice, but I don't know what to do. I will repeat what I know is true. Father, you care for me. You understand my needs. You know what is best. And you are still sovereign. Help me in my unbelief.