We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.
2 Corinthians 4:10
What is the one thing you always carry with you? Is it your phone? It is for me, that’s for sure. And as much as I’d like to say I don’t, I carry my phone with me everywhere. Going to the kitchen for a snack? I’m bringing my phone along. Going to the store? Better grab my phone! I always carry my phone with me because it is my source of connection, information, and entertainment. It’s the first thing I grab when I feel sad, lonely, bored, happy, confused, or lost. It’s a habit, one that’s deeply ingrained and established.
What if we carried around the truth of God’s character like we do our phones? What if when we needed encouragement, wisdom, or comfort, we remembered the truth of who our God is? What would our lives look like if we carried around the truth of who He is, a reminder of the loving sacrifice that Christ made for us, influencing and changing our days?
When Paul wrote the letter of 2 Corinthians to the church at Corinth, he encouraged them in their suffering. They were enduring hardship and suffering, and he reminded them of what they needed to carry with them always: the death of Jesus. When they did, they would also be carrying around the life of Jesus, the life that He had given them when they placed their faith in HIm. Paul encouraged them to endure in their suffering, continually reminding themselves of the truth of who God is. They were to put their hope in what was eternal, not in what was temporary.
It is easy to get distracted by the world, by our own doubt and fear, or by the lies of the enemy. When we experience trouble, or even in our everyday lives, we can carry around the truth of who God is. When we’ve read it, written it, and captured it, we can carry it with us and allow it to influence our thoughts, actions, and decisions.
When we carry around with us the truth of God’s character, we are able to endure like the church at Corinth. We may experience trouble, but it will not crush us. We may be perplexed by our circumstances, but not driven to despair. We may be persecuted, but we are never abandoned by God. We may be knocked down by life, but we are never destroyed.
By remembering and believing the character of God and the promises He has made, we carry His life with us every day. We can always live in light of truth when we have committed it to memory, carrying it with us whether we travel around the world or to the next room.
When we carry the truth of God’s character with us, we never stop living in light of who He is and what He has done for us.
No matter what you’re facing today, nothing is too big for God. No amount of hardship can alter God’s plan or nullify His purposes for you. He is always faithful to you. We can be faithful to Him by enduring, by continuing to place our hope in the goodness of God when our circumstances tell us to give up. He died so we could have life, and we can live in victory! Let’s carry around the death and life of Christ with us every day so that we may endure suffering and be a light to those around us by clinging to His truth.
How can you carry the truth of God’s character with you today? It could be creating an image and saving it as the background of your phone. It could be writing reminders for yourself around your home or office of who God is. Share some of your ideas below of how we can carry the truth of God’s character with us!
