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Squeezed but not Strangled
“But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you.
Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.
So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”
2 Corinthians 4:7-18 NET
We suffer- but why? Paul, the author of 2 Corinthians, invites us above into a profound exploration of suffering and its purpose. The image of "jars of clay" holding a priceless treasure encapsulates this paradox. How bizarre that God would promise the treasures of His kingdom to persons so weak as we are! We are fragile vessels, susceptible to breaking, yet entrusted with the His plan? This juxtaposition underscores the central theme: God's strength is perfected in our weakness.
The apostle presents a series of contrasting pairs: afflicted but not crushed, perplexed but not driven to despair, persecuted but not forsaken, struck down but not destroyed. Each pair offers two perspectives: the world's view and the believer's. The world sees suffering as defeat, while faith reveals it as a path to triumph. Our bodies often align with the world's perspective, prompting us to question God's goodness. Yet, faith offers a different lens, revealing that eternal life is within our grasp.
Paul emphasizes that this suffering is temporary. It is a light affliction compared to the eternal weight of glory awaiting believers. This contrast between the seen and unseen is crucial. We are tempted to focus on immediate pain and discomfort, losing sight of the ultimate prize. By fixing our gaze on the unseen, we cultivate a resilience that transcends earthly trials.
The phrase "squeezed but not strangled" from the Aramaic Bible in Plain English vividly captures the experience of affliction. We still use the idea of feeling squeezed today. By it we mean we feel drained, depleted, and on the brink of collapse. This is what the body of flesh feels. This is what the world sees. Satan tempts us to believe this is the end, that our resources are exhausted. But when we look at Jesus we realize that we are not without resource. We are not without a lifeline. We are not “strangled”. No matter how harassed we are, we understand that the world cannot condemn us. We stand before God the Maker through faith in Jesus. We are held securely in God's hands, immune to the ultimate destruction.
We don’t want to leave the impression that suffering will always lead to better outcomes in life, or that God will prohibit our death. We do indeed die. Jesus died! But he rose again. Our perspective is not for this life, but the life beyond. Through Jesus Satan is unsuccessful in strangling our spirits, our minds, our zeal, and our determination to Glorify God into eternity.
Our response to suffering is pivotal. We must resist the urge to give up and instead choose faith. The journey is difficult, but the destination is beyond comprehension. Where we fail is by taking our eyes off of Jesus. We fail when we allow the momentary to overshadow the eternal. Let us consider what is unseen rather than what is seen. Let us walk by faith and not by sight. Let us put the suffering and resurrection of Jesus always before us so that as we share in his suffering we can also share in his triumph!
