July 29

We are hard pressed on all sides, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; — 2 Cor 4:8 BSB

As Christians, we should always strive to live a victorious life.

Of course, we’ll face burdens, struggles, trials, and suffering, but we shouldn’t be defeated by them. Our Scripture today shows us the way: “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” Our Master overcame the world, and He was never defeated.

He wants us to live the same way. We can’t do it on our own, but we can find help in Him and be “more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” Even if our physical body breaks down, that doesn’t mean defeat. “Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.”

We have an inner, glorious life that nothing in this world can harm. “We know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, eternal in the heavens.”