Praying our troubles to trust

Psalms 3:1-8 ESV

O Lord , how many are my foes! Many are rising against me; many are saying of my soul, there is no salvation for him in God. Selah But you, O Lord , are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. I cried aloud to the Lord , and he answered me from his holy hill. Selah I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the Lord sustained me. I will not be afraid of many thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around. Arise, O Lord ! Save me, O my God! For you strike all my enemies on the cheek; you break the teeth of the wicked. Salvation belongs to the Lord ; your blessing be on your people! Selah

Rev Charles Han

The psalms were during a time when David was on the run. His son had taken the throne and he was running for His life. Absalom was looking to kill him and had taken the throne.

Expect troubles

Large and small troubles are the norm, not the exception. We should not expect ease. We should find ourselves often uncomfortable and troubled. The overall feeling and sense of the psalms is one of attack, suffering, and need for divine intervention. We should not be surprised that our lives are troubled.

Maybe you feel deep down that you should be free from troubles. That we should be above the fray. But that is not biblical. We will often feel weak, overwhelmed, and troubled. That life on this side of eternity is one of struggle. If you are a Christian and you are up to your neck in trouble, you are in esteemed company.

"What can miserable Christians sing?" - Carl Trueman

Pray your troubles

Now that we are to expect troubles as the norm, what should we do then? Not only external troubles, but internal storms. David prays. He brings all these to God.

The most common command in the bible is do not fear. His commands this because fear can shackle us. It can affect us spiritually, physically, and emotionally. It makes us cowardly and keeps us from free righteous living. Low level anxiety to gripping intense fears are part and parcel of our hearts. But instead of fearing people, enemies, and circumstances, we should fear God. From that fear comes life and wisdom.

Is your instinct when fear comes to go to God? Or do you try to handle the burden on your own? When we meet God in fearful prayer, do we go to Him looming to become bold and strong in God?

Pray your troubles to trust

What is the way to go from fear to trust in prayer?

First, verses 1&2 tell us to come with our complaint(s).

Verses 3&4 confess faith in God. The fear in our lives can only be overcome by a greater fear. A reverential fear of God that casts out all our other fears. David does not confess general aspects of God. He gets specific. He speaks of God being his shield and his glory. The lifter of his head, the encourager of his heart, and the one who affirms him.

Verses 5&6 express confidence.

David says that he will not fear thousands of men seeking to kill and undo him.

Verse 7 is David's asking God to save.

We usually skip straight to this step. But there's a difference, he knows who he prays to.

Verse 8 is a celebration.

David was not saved yet. He was still in the same situation. But he celebrated salvation. The peace of God had taken over.

From doubt to delight

Psalms 73:1-28 ESV

Truly God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For they have no pangs until death; their bodies are fat and sleek. They are not in trouble as others are; they are not stricken like the rest of mankind. Therefore pride is their necklace; violence covers them as a garment. Their eyes swell out through fatness; their hearts overflow with follies. They scoff and speak with malice; loftily they threaten oppression. They set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongue struts through the earth. Therefore his people turn back to them, and find no fault in them. And they say, "How can God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?" Behold, these are the wicked; always at ease, they increase in riches. All in vain have I kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence. For all the day long I have been stricken and rebuked every morning. If I had said, "I will speak thus," I would have betrayed the generation of your children. But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task, until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end. Truly you set them in slippery places; you make them fall to ruin. How they are destroyed in a moment, swept away utterly by terrors! Like a dream when one awakes, O Lord, when you rouse yourself, you despise them as phantoms. When my soul was embittered, when I was pricked in heart, I was brutish and ignorant; I was like a beast toward you. Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. For behold, those who are far from you shall perish; you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you. But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.

Rev. Dwight Yoo

This psalm is credited to Asaph. He is equivalent to the modem day worship leader.

The honesty of Asaph

Asaph speaks of a time of being tempted to walk away from God. He considered leaving the faith behind. He was being honest not just with friends and family, but also being brutally raw and honest to God. There is no pretense here. God calls us to come to Him not in formality. He calls us to meet Him without any pretenses or masks. As we are.

Not only that, but psalms were meant to be publicly shared. So, Asaph was sharing his troubles with everyone. His doubts of God. His struggles with faith.

The struggle of Asaph

Asaph was envious of unbelievers. He saw people who did not follow God. They were corrupt, happy, successful, and cocky. Following God has been painful. It seems in vain. Doubt is not only for the unbelievers, but also for the Christian, even pastors. Where is the justice?

The transformation of Asaph

Asaph goes to the sanctuary of God. And he is changed. So is that it? Just go to church? No, it is not just that. We are to pray together, praise together, take communion together... and somewhere in all that, God comes and meets us. When He does, we are changed. God confronts both Asaph's head and heart. Asaph experiences God and discovers that God is the ultimate treasure.

Acts 14:21-22 ESV

When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.

Suffering is not without reason. For the believer, it is expected. Because we follow Christ and no one is greater than their teacher.

The true prayer of repentance

Psalms 51:1-19 ESV

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice. Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. Do good to Zion in your good pleasure; build up the walls of Jerusalem; then will you delight in right sacrifices, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on your altar.

Rev. Dan Whang

We are going thru the psalms because they are relevant to our lives. They were written in good times and bad. They show us how to pray in all sorts of situations.

This psalms focuses on repentance and struggle over sin. This is meant to drawn us home from places of helplessness and hopelessness in our sins.

A spiritually healthy Christian is one who is continually repenting. They are constantly repenting of sin in view of God's grace and mercy.

Victory over sin does not come from just changing our behavior, paying enough penance/sacrifice... It comes from repenting properly. Repenting in a way that changes us.

A sincere appeal to God's mercy and kindness

David asks for God's mercy. Not by trying to be very sincere or earnest, but throwing ourselves upon God's mercy and love. David appeals to God's faithful love for His people. David knew that he had failed, but God is still faithfully loving us.

An honest admission of our total depravity

David speaks of how he was born in sin and grew up in sin. Are we surprised when people point out our sin? Are we surprised by our bad habits and excuses for them? Do we blame our circumstances, other people, or say that it was an exception to our usual behavior? We should not. We need to admit that we are sinners and that is our character. We need to own up to it. No but's. It is when we see our darkness clearly that we can then receive the fullness of God's grace.

Wanting sin to be completely out of our lives

David then asks for God to completely blur this sin from his life. Not a halfway appeal for momentary forgiveness, but a complete cleansing and removal of sin from our lives. If we do not want the sin out of our lives, it is because we have not repented deeply enough. We are still entertaining thoughts of sin. We are not repenting fully, if we are only concerned with feeling relief from the burden of our sin.

We will know that we have gotten there when we sing of God's righteousness and speak of mercy. When we share of God's mercy to others. Repentant people are not dour. They are joyful because they are being constantly spiritually renewed.

Two ways to live

Psalms 1:1-6 ESV

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord , and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the Lord  knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

Rev. Dwight Yoo

Why are the psalms beneficial for study?

These are songs meant for accompaniment with a harp. These writings span about a thousand years. They have been encouraging believers for over three thousand years.

The value of the PSALMS

They teach us how to PRAY

These psalms teach us how to pray. In all sorts of circumstances, joy, sorrow, doubt, etc.

SONGS to honestly express ourselves

They help us to express how we are feeling. Music can express better than just dialog.

Because of their MESSAGE

The psalms not only teach us how to talk to God, but they also teach us about God's love, faithfulness, his character...

Psalm 1 is the introduction to this book. It tells us that there are two ways to live. Only two. This psalm tells of the beauty of the good path and the tragedy of the other path.

Difference in influence

The wicked man walks, stands, and sits. This is the picture of one who is being influenced by the people of the world. They walk with wicked people. They are living a lifestyle of sin. And not only disbelieve, but they mock belief in God. Thus speaks to a breadth and depth of influence of worldliness.

This picture is a stark contrast to the one who follows God. They meditate on God's law day and night. It speaks of a totality of life being influenced by the word of God.

These two influences are completely radical and in stark contrast to each other: the word of God and the world. We will listen to those that we believe are authoritative. If we believe God, then we will listen to Him. If not, then we will look to the world for truth and happiness.

Which one does your life look like? What really influences you?

Difference in output and outcome

The life of the righteous are fruitful and prosperous. Not materially prospering or worldly success. Even in tough times, they will still bear good fruit. When you spend time with these people, you are spiritually refreshed. They are encouraging, blessing, and bear much spiritual fruit. The leaf does not wither! Even in the worst of drought and heat, they still bear fruit. They are headed towards intimacy with God.

The wicked are like chaff. They have no substance to their lives. Chaff has no value. The only thing you can do is burn it. In the eternal picture, they have nothing of worth. They are building sand castles. They are headed towards destruction.

How to get on and stay on the road to life

This passage is not talking about how to get on the righteous road. It talks about one who is already on the road to life. It is descriptive, not commanding.

So then how do we get on the road?

We first acknowledge that we cannot live this way. Then we turn to the only one who lived this way, Jesus. Through faith in Him, we find the road. He changes us to become this person we've read about. God will plant us and make us  fruitful trees.

A True Disciple

John 11:45-12:11 ESV

Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him, but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the Council and said, "What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation." But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, "You know nothing at all. Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish." He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. So from that day on they made plans to put him to death. Jesus therefore no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there to the region near the wilderness, to a town called Ephraim, and there he stayed with the disciples. Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and many went up from the country to Jerusalem before the Passover to purify themselves. They were looking for Jesus and saying to one another as they stood in the temple, "What do you think? That he will not come to the feast at all?" Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where he was, he should let them know, so that they might arrest him.

Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, "Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?" He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. Jesus said, "Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial.  For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me."  When the large crowd of the Jews learned that Jesus was there, they came, not only on account of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus.

BACKGROUND

The religious leaders were afraid of Jesus's growing popularity. They were afraid that the Romans would dismantle the Jewish religious system. The Romans might see Jesus as a growing political power and decide to disperse the Jewish system as a result.

This story is one of contrasts. The striking contrast between Mary and Judas. Judas has all the trappings of a true Christian. He's in the original twelve. He's in a position of power. Mary does not.

Three marks of a true Christian

Humility

Mary was completely changed by her interaction with Jesus. So when they are throwing a thank-you party for Jesus, Mary does more. She buys this expensive perfume. She anoints his feet. Not his head, but his feet as an expression of reverence for Jesus. Feet were disgusting. Even servants might be demeaned by washing feet. And the hair, the glory of women, is used to wash the lowest part of God. It portrays a sense of how unworthy our service is compared to what God deserves. The best that Mary had to offer was less than what Christ deserved.

It is recognition that our best, our righteousness, and our goodness are filthy rags in the sight of God.  We are in need of the grace of God. Humility comes not from seeking to be humble but from seeing God. When we see God and then we see ourselves, we are humbled.

And I said: "Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!" - Isaiah 6:5 ESV

Mary spent a lot of time at the feet of Jesus. Is it any surprise that Mary is so humble?

Extravagant sacrifice

This perfumed ointment was a year's salary. It was probably a family heirloom. At today's price, it was probably 30 to 50 dollars. Not only that, but in those days perfume was in jars and once opened, it was done. You didn't dap it on. You broke the neck of the jar. Mary broke the neck of that perfume-filled jar and poured it all out on Jesus's feet. The perfume probably filled the entire house. The disciples were all shocked at the extravagance. Judas was the only one who could speak.

Jesus asks not for a year's wage. Not three years. But rather he's asking for our entire lives. And not just that, but he wants control over the entirely of our lives, every area. This looks foolish and crazy to the world.

Treasure Jesus

Judas brings up the ministry of the poor. Not because he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief. He wanted the money in the treasury so he could steal more of it.

This can enter our lives as well. We serve at the church for our own ends. We do the "Christian" thing because this can get us what we truly want. We can serve for personal reasons rather than because we treasure Christ.

Jesus says that treasuring him is better than serving the poor. This is not to say that serving the poor is bad. But treasuring Christ is much, much, much better.

Consider how calculated we are with our giving. We say that we are being wise in our giving. But is this really true? Or is this a cover for our hearts? Do we treasure Jesus above this life and all the things it gives us? Mary anointed Jesus as a way to recognize the kingship of Jesus. But she, unknowingly, was anointing him for his death.

John 12:24 ESV Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.

How Jesus deals with our pain

John 11:17-44 ESV

Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you." Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again."  Martha said to him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day." Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,  and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?"  She said to him, "Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world." When she had said this, she went and called her sister Mary, saying in private, "The Teacher is here and is calling for you." And when she heard it, she rose quickly and went to him. Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha had met him. When the Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary rise quickly and go out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there. Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. And he said, "Where have you laid him?" They said to him, "Lord, come and see." Jesus wept. So the Jews said, "See how he loved him!" But some of them said, "Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?" Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. Jesus said, "Take away the stone." Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, "Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days." Jesus said to her, "Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?"  So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me.  I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me."  When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out."  The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Unbind him, and let him go."

Jesus comes and finds Mary and Martha in deep pain. In this passage, we see how God engages us in our pain.

He uses our pain

Martha acknowledges that Jesus has power. She said that He can ask anything of God and it would be granted. She believed that a resurrection would happen at end times. But Jesus says that He is the resurrection and the life. She says she believes, but her belief is shallow. It is mostly theological. We can see this when she tells Jesus that the body would smell. In many ways, Martha reflects us. We have a set of core beliefs that make us Christian. But even though we believe, it is abstract. We say Jesus is powerful, but we place limits on his power. We box God. We say Jesus forgives our sin, but how much of that is more than just theoretical? How much do we know in our hearts and in our experience? Often God uses painful circumstances to grow our faith. Those who suffer for God KNOW of his provision, his power, his strength, and his faithfulness.

He shares it

God is not just sitting in heaven pushing buttons. Does he understand what is happening to us during our dark times? Jesus not only understands it, he knows it better than us. How so? First, he is creator. He first created things as good, now he sees how things have been spoiled by sin. Jesus is deeply troubled, but most think that Jesus had a sense of anger and frustration. Death is not how it is supposed to be. Consider people who have been robbed. They come home to a ravaged home where someone has destroyed things. The anger, frustration, and feeling of violation is just an echo of God. Second, Jesus takes the wrath of God for generations of believers. This is not something we will ever know. Jesus knows intimately of pain and suffering much more than we do.

He redeems it

Lazarus is physically raised. Not given a resurrection body, but just a physical reduction. That's why Lazarus is still bound. When Jesus resurrected, he passed through the burial strips. In an instant, a crowd in mourning becomes one of shock and rejoicing. This is a miracle, but remember Jesus does miracles to point towards something greater. It points towards the greater resurrection in heaven. God will take these hardships and agonies and return to us glories and greater joy. We know this because Jesus came back with the nailmarks. Those pain filled scars on Jesus represent the death and humiliation. But those scars also represent the forgiveness of our sins, the hope of salvation in the death and resurrection of our Lord. When we get to heaven we will trade our tears for joy.

Precious promises I the midst of pain

John 11:1-16 ESV

Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill. So the sisters sent to him, saying, "Lord, he whom you love is ill." But when Jesus heard it he said, "This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it."  Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was. Then after this he said to the disciples, "Let us go to Judea again."  The disciples said to him, "Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone you, and are you going there again?" Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world.  But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him."  After saying these things, he said to them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him."  The disciples said to him, "Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover." Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep. Then Jesus told them plainly, "Lazarus has died,  and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him."  So Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with him."

Rev. Dwight Yoo

There is an inescapable part of life: pain and suffering. In this life, every human relationship ends in pain. We will all die. We face the pain of failed endeavors, pointless jobs, mental illness, physical ailments... This comes to the rich, poor, smart, or successful. No one comes away unscathed.

People react differently. Some get depressed. Some try to avoid it. Some get bitter.  Some blame other people, the Man, the government, even God and the church. But others do something differently. They learn and grow.

Gospel truths on pain from the passage on Lazarus

The love of God is sure, in spite of all appearances.

This is the most questioned truth. When we go through pain we don't sense His love. In fact, when life is good, we feel the closest to God. When we are in tough circumstances, it feels like God is far.

When Jesus was told that Lazarus was sick, Jesus did not rush to the family. He waited two more days as this family suffered. He loved them. John 11:5 states it clearly. Jesus loved this family.

Not only this, but this is in the face of great opposition. The disciples fully expected to die in going back to visit the family. This event precipitates the death of Jesus. Jesus knew that this move back towards Jerusalem would eventually cost Him His life.

Jesus waited so that Lazarus would be dead for four days. There was a rabbinic tradition that said that the spirit hovered over the body for a few days. So there was a chance that the spirit would reenter the body and the person would be resuscitated. However, after three days, the body was so far gone that the spirit would leave. So when Jesus resurrected Lazarus, everyone would know...it was no coincidence. Not only that, but this was a wealthy family. There were many powerful Jews at the funeral. So when this brother was raised, many came to believe, the faith of the family strengthened, the faith of the disciples lifted.

Romans 8:28 ESV

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Isaiah 55:8-9 ESV

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord . For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

God is a lavish giver.

The snake tempted Adam and Eve by calling God greedy and selfish. And they believed the snake. God still blessed them after they sinned. We have a lavish and good giver. The disciples and the family wanted a healing. But instead they got a lot more than they wanted or expected. They witnessed a resurrection. But we should not stop there. Jesus is not only one who gives life. He is life! In him, we find delight and satisfaction.

Ephesians 2:4-7 ESV

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

Jeremiah 29:11 ESV

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord , plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

2 Corinthians 4:8-9 ESV

We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;