Despairing (1820) (exaporeomai from ek = normally means "out of" but here serves as a strong intensifier of the simple verb + aporéo = to be at a loss) means to be utterly at a loss (cp at a loss - meaning of the "milder" verb aporeo above) to be in great doubt, in utmost despair, greatly perplexed. As alluded to, perplexed and despairing have the same derivation and indicate that yes, admits to being at a loss (aporeo) but never to the point that he felt he was at a total loss (exaporeomai) or had reached a state of utter hopelessness. Thayer = To be utterly destitute of measures or resources, to renounce all hope The English definition of despair - to lose or give up hope. Synonyms include - despond, give up, lose heart, lose all hope or confidence. Paul was at times at loss to explain circumstances but never to the point of causing him to lose hope. Why? Because the God of hope was his hope Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace (God's sovereign provision) in believing (our Spirit energized responsibility - to trust and obey, there's no other way to be happy in Jesus, then to trust and obey), that (expresses purpose) you may abound in hope by the power (dunamis) of the Holy Spirit. (Ro 15:13-note) The only other NT use of exaporeomai is... 2 Corinthians 1:8 For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life; There is one use in the Septuagint... Psalm 88:15 I was afflicted and about to die from my youth on; I suffer Your terrors; I am overcome (Lxx = exaporeomai). (The English translation of the Septuagint reads "having been lifted up, I was brought low and into despair.") MacArthur... He was at his wit’s end, but there was still a way out; he was at the brink of defeat but not defeated. ><>><>><> Choosing The Hard Thing - On September 12, 1962, President John F. Kennedy delivered a speech at Rice University in Houston, Texas, about the difficult challenges facing the nation. He also shared his passion for the United States to place a man on the moon. In balancing the needs of his people with the desire to conquer space, Kennedy said, “We choose to go to the moon in this decade. We choose to go to the moon and do the other things, not because they are easy but because they are hard.” The nation responded. Seven years later, Neil Armstrong took a “giant leap for mankind” in July of 1969, by walking on the moon. Today’s world is filled with energy-saving devices that make life easier, but there is something to be said for embracing life’s challenges. The apostle Paul found serving Christ hard, but he didn’t see it as a cause for discouragement. He continued to focus on Christ, and wrote, “We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair” (2 Cor. 4:8). Paul knew that “He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you” (v.14). The goal was worth the pain. By the grace of God, may we commit to serving Jesus—not just when it’s easy, but when it’s hard. — by Bill Crowder For Further Study Learn more about dealing with difficulties in life. Read Joseph: Overcoming Life’s Challenges on the Web at www.discoveryseries.org/q0715 Jesus gave His all to save us— Are we giving our all to serve Him? (Motivated by love not legalism!) ><>><>><> Dying Daily— by David H. Roper We are hard-pressed on every side, . . . always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus. —2 Corinthians 4:8,10. Are you in a situation where you are often misunderstood for your faith in Christ? Are you surrounded by people with a carping, critical spirit? Do you get little or no credit for the work you do in your church or for your family? The proper response is a willingness to have a humble and submissive spirit—to die as Jesus did throughout His life. Yes, our Lord died once on the cross; but in another sense He also died every day. The cross was the culmination of an entire lifetime of dying. He was willing to be misunderstood and maligned, to give up home and comforts, to take the role of a servant. That was His “death.” We must be willing to die in that way as well. When we die with Him, God’s gift to us is “the life of Jesus” (2Corinthians 4:10), the most attractive life ever lived. His beauty will gradually grow in us and become our beauty as well. Remember this saying: “A picture is worth a thousand words.” The portrait you draw of Jesus with your humble, tranquil presence in the face of grievous wrong is worth many words on the subject. Some may see the life of Jesus revealed in you and long to enter into that life. That’s how dying daily can help bring life to another. Dear Jesus, take my heart and hand, And grant me this, I pray: That I through Your sweet love may grow More like You day by day. —Garrison Living daily for Christ requires dying daily to self. ><>><>><> 2Corinthians 4:7-18 "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me" (Galatians 2:20). The frigid waters around Greenland contain countless icebergs, some little and some gigantic. Sometimes the small ice floes move in one direction while their massive counterparts flow in another. The explanation is simple. Surface winds drive the little ones, whereas deep ocean currents carry the huge masses. When we face trials and tragedies, our lives are subject to two forces—"surface winds" and "ocean currents." The winds represent everything changeable, unpredictable, and distressing. But operating simultaneously with these gusts and gales is another force that's even more powerful. It is the sure movement of God's wise and sovereign purposes, the deep flow of His unchanging love. The secret of victory is to be certain that we are in touch with that unseen current. (Ed: The power of God via the Spirit of Christ in us, mere frail clay pots). Asaph, buffeted by thoughts of the prosperity of the wicked, went into the sanctuary to be alone with God. Only then did he gain the divine perspective (Psalm 73:17). Job faced his calamities by affirming, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him" (Job 13:15). And the apostle Paul, realizing that he had been "crucified with Christ," was convinced that the Lord Jesus was living in him. He could therefore say, "We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed" (2Cor. 4:8). Although the surface winds of trial become severe, we need not be alarmed. If we trust the Lord, the deep currents of His love and wisdom (Ed: and power) will carry us peacefully along. —D. J. De Haan Better the storm with Christ than smooth waters without Him. ><>><>><> THESE bodies of ours truly are "earthen vessels" (2 Corinthians 4:7). They are fragile and weak and susceptible to injury and disease. But physical limitations need not limit the spirit (because of His Spirit). Many believers have learned that to be "struck down" does not mean "destroyed." Leon Wood exemplified this truth during the closing years of his life. While this brilliant Old Testament scholar was in his prime as an author and as the dean of a seminary, he contracted amyotrophic lateral sclerosis—Lou Gehrig's disease. Bit by bit, it struck down Wood's body. When he could no longer run, he had to give up tennis. Walking became difficult as he grew weaker and weaker. Finally he was confined to his bed. But as his body weakened, his faith and resolve strengthened. He continued to study, to teach, and to write. Some of his most significant books were written in the latter stages of his illness. The last seminary class he taught met at his bedside. His spirit remained strong to the end. He was not destroyed. When we are struck down by disease or stopped by some serious setback, we need not allow it to destroy us. We can choose instead to hold fast to God's Goodness (see this attribute of God). As we trust and obey (Trust and Obey) Him through difficulty, we demonstrate the power of God and we encourage others. In so doing, we strengthen the very thing Satan is trying to destroy.—D C Egner ><>><>><> Warren Wiersbe - Romans 8:17 says that "we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory." We do everything we can to shield babies from suffering. If a baby starts to suffer, we drop everything to make that baby comfortable. But God allows His children to suffer because we aren't babies. He is treating us as adults. We need suffering because it builds character. We need suffering because it builds spiritual muscles. Suffering teaches us much about the grace of God, and suffering prepares us for future glory. "We share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory" (Ro 8:17). God gives us the privilege of suffering because He wants us to grow up. The ultimate privilege of life is to be entrusted with God's glory. God puts us through suffering that He might be able to share His glory with us. That is an amazing thing! Are you living up to your privileges? If you are a Christian, you have been adopted, you have an adult standing in the family of God. With this standing comes responsibility. We don't run away from suffering. We don't waste our inheritance. We are sure that we are born again, and we share this with others. We have the privilege of speaking to and for God and the freedom of walking with God. What privileges we have! ><>><>><> Vance Havner - I love the old folk melody that says: "You must walk that lonesome valley, you must walk it by yourself; nobody else can walk it for you, you must walk it by yourself." But it begins by saying that Jesus walked His Lonesome Valley and it comes to a victorious finish by affirming that He is walking by our side. Not even He can walk that valley for us, but He can walk it with us. He assured us, "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." No one, not even the Lord, can assume our responsibility to walk our valley, but sometimes precious human companionship helps make it less lonely and our Lord will never leave us nor forsake us. Lonesome Valley! He doesn't walk it for us, but He does walk it with us!...The wealthiest man is he who has suffered most for Christ. Today many wear medals, but few wear scars. If you have no wounds to show, you probably have not been in many battles, only to dress parades on Sunday! ><>><>><> Suffering can do several things in the life of a believer. First, it can “burn out the dross,” or purify us and lead us to greater holiness of life. But it can also “burn in the promises,” or lead us to a closer dependence on God and his faithful promises to us. Burn it will—but look also at what the burning is for. ><>><>><> You may explain to a child all the medical reasons why he must have a shot in the arm, but when the nurse gets ready to plunge that needle into his arm, he runs to Mommy. Comfort comes not in always knowing the reason why, but in knowing the Comforter. ><>><>><> There are many benefits in knowing a foreign language. One of the chief benefits lies in the increased ability to understand and be understood. If a person knows only one language, he is tempted to think that everything he communicates is understood. However, if forced to translate an idea into another language, he must consider various possible words to use and their shades of meaning as well as all of the other elements of the language. This effort opens up a door, allowing him to communicate with many new people. Suffering is like knowing a foreign language, since things that one usually takes for granted in a normal flow of life must be thought through in new ways in a time of suffering. For those who have lived with suffering, a door of ministry is opened wide to a world of hurting people. ><>><>><> Spurgeon - Mark then, Christian, Jesus did not suffer so as to exclude your suffering. He bore a cross, not that you may escape it, but that you may endure it. Christ exempts you from sin, but not from sorrow. Remember that, and expect to suffer. ><>><>><> The Weaver My life is but a weaving between my Lord and me, I cannot choose the colors He worketh steadily. Oft times He weaveth sorrow and I in foolish pride Forget He sees the upper and I the underside. The dark threads are as needful in the weaver’s skillful hand As the threads of gold and silver in the pattern He has planned. Not till the loom is silent and the shuttle cease to fly Shall God unroll the canvas and explain the reason why. 2 Corinthians 4:9 Commentary 2 Corinthians 4:9 persecuted but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed (NASB: Lockman) Greek: diokomenoi (PPPMPN) all' ouk egkataleipomenoi, (PPPMPN) kataballomenoi (PPPMPN) all' ouk apollumenoi, (PMPMPN) Amplified: We are pursued (persecuted and hard driven), but not deserted [to stand alone]; we are struck down to the ground, but never struck out and destroyed; (Lockman) Barclay: We are persecuted by men, but never abandoned by God. We are knocked down, but not knocked out. (Westminster Press) God's Word: We're persecuted, but we're not abandoned. We're captured, but we're not killed. (GWT) Easy English: We suffer in a cruel way for what we believe. However, God does not leave us on our own. Things knock us down, but they do not kill us. ESV: persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; (ESV) KJV: Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; NET: we are persecuted, but not abandoned; we are knocked down, but not destroyed, (NET Bible) NIV: persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. (NIV - IBS) NLT: We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. (NLT - Tyndale House) Phillips: We are persecuted, but we never have to stand it alone: we may be knocked down but we are never knocked out! (Phillips: Touchstone) Weymouth: pursued, yet never left unsuccoured; struck to the ground, yet never slain; Wuest: We are being persecuted, but not left in the lurch, not abandoned, not let down. We are being knocked down, but not destroyed, (Eerdmans) Young's Literal: persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; PERSECUTED, BUT NOT FORSAKEN; STRUCK DOWN, BUT NOT DESTROYED: diokomenoi (PPPMPN) all' ouk egkataleipomenoi, (PPPMPN) kataballomenoi (PPPMPN) all' ouk apollumenoi, (PMPMPN): (but: Ps 9:10 22:1 37:25,28 Isa 62:4 Heb 13:5) (Struck down: 2Co 7:6 Job 5:17-19 22:29 Ps 37:24 42:5,11 Isa 43:2) When you stand for Christ, everything that stands against Him will come against (persecute) you! And yet in Him, in His grace and power, you can stand. (Play Kristian Stanfill - The Stand)