Today's daily devotion

At Rope’s End

We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us.—2 CORINTHIANS 1:8–10 NIV

Some people have said that when they reached the end of their rope, they tied a knot and hung on. Others have said that living through great difficulty showed them that they didn’t know as much as they thought they did but they were stronger than they imagined they were.

Still others say that God’s children endure suffering until they realize that circumstances are far more difficult than they can handle. At that point, each person has a choice: He or she can curse God like Job’s wife recommended, or embrace God like Job did. Who can forget Job’s moving affirmation, “I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth” (Job 19:25 NIV)?

When we focus intently on God rather than our difficult situation, He sustains and fills us with hope and joy—helping us to continue our journey. Eventually, He delivers us. When we are saved, we know who saved us.