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The Amish Voice 7
We are troubled on every side,
yet not distressed; we are
perplexed, but not in
despair; persecuted, but
not forsaken; cast down,
but
not
destroyed;
always bearing about in
the body the dying of
the Lord Jesus, that the
life also of Jesus might
be made manifest in our body (2
Corinthians 4:8-10).
This morning I went to our school for
Grandparent's Day since Mark's parents (my
in-laws) were able to come from Indiana to
be with our school-age children. During
worship we sang the song, "I'm Trading My
Sorrows.” It says, "I'm trading my sorrows,
I'm trading my shame. . . . I'm trading my
sickness, I'm trading my pain, and I'm layin'
them down for the joy of the Lord."
It goes on to say, "I am
persecuted,
but
not
abandoned, crushed down but
not destroyed..."
It really spoke to me this
morning. People may do to
us what they want, but we
are not to remain
victims. People can
strike us, smite us,
curse us, and try to stop us. They can hurt us,
push us, and knock us down, but they can't
keep us there! They can't destroy us.
Paul says, "I will not fear what man can do to
me." Jesus said we should not fear man who
can destroy our bodies, but should fear God
who is able to destroy both body and soul in
hell.
The less we focus on humans and their
opinions of us, and the more we trust our
God, the better off we will be. Humans
cannot do lasting damage unless we let them.
We may be “crushed down but not
destroyed,” as the song says. No one can
destroy us.
Further, opposition is good for us. It
strengthens us; it gives us wisdom and
compassion for others.
Another thing is this: though they may try,
no one can silence us unless we allow them
to. I am not saying that we shouldn't be silent
sometimes. We should often be more silent
than we are. We do not need to promote
ourselves, but if someone is trying to take
our voice, it is up to us to keep it.
When we see who we are IN CHRIST, we no
longer feel threatened by others. Those who
try to destroy us are humans also, with hopes,
dreams, goals, worries, fears, and struggles.
Don't accept who they say you are. Find out
who God says you are. After all, He made
you! —End
Crushed Down, But Not Destroyed
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