Count those buts!

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 2 Corinthians 4:6-9

There are times in Paul’s letters when he rises to positively poetic heights – think, for example, of Philippians 2 or 1 Corinthians 13. And it’s rather like that here.

In 2 Corinthians 4 he is reflecting on the way he and his fellow-apostles go about their ministry. It’s by no means easy, he says. But what a privilege! The calling to proclaim Christ is a “treasure”, but God makes sure it’s well-disguised by putting it in “jars of clay” (that’s how Paul sees himself and his companions) because it would never do for the messengers to outshine the message, would it?

But… it involves suffering. And in a rhythmic description of his own experience Paul spells this out in verses 8 and 9. Four times in these two verses he uses the word “but”, and taken together they add up to a powerful declaration of his determination to proclaim Jesus never mind what…

Hard pressed… but not crushed. Perplexed… but not in despair. Persecuted… but not abandoned. Struck down… but not destroyed. (Isn’t “but” a great little word?)

That’s me! says Paul, that’s the story of my life – just an old clay pot, me. I’m the most insignificant little man you could imagine. I’m not a herald of King Jesus like the royal heralds who proclaim news from the palace, blowing trumpets and all dressed up in fine uniforms. Oh no! I’m a bit of a non-entity really. People laugh at me. My opponents try to injure or even kill me.

But, make no mistake, they won’t be smiling any more when they see lives transformed by the power of this silly little “gospel” I preach. (It’s Paul, by the way, not me, who speaks of the gospel as “foolishness”: 1 Corinthians 1:18.) Paul has this firm conviction that the plain word of God really does change lives.

What I particularly like about his four “buts” is the way they balance hard-headed realism and rock-solid faith.

Hard-pressed… that could be translated “afflicted” or “distressed”, words that relate to all manner of troubles, physical, psychological or spiritual.

… but not crushed! Oh yes, feeling the weight, but not giving way under it.

Perplexed… that could be translated “anxious” or “at a loss”, just not knowing what to think or which way to turn.

… but not in despair! Clinging to the hope and prayer that things will come clear.

Persecuted… that could be translated “hunted” or “chased down” like an animal, and it could very well be meant quite literally, for according to Acts there were indeed times when Paul was hounded from one town to another.

… but not abandoned! Just when I thought I’d been left behind – well, I discovered I hadn’t!

Struck down… that could be translated “cast down” or “prostrated”. That certainly happened in a purely physical sense. But did Paul also have bouts of depression? 2 Corinthians 1:8-9 suggests it.

… but not destroyed! No, I’m still here, and still forging ahead.

Whatever the precise meaning of Paul’s words, the basic thrust is clear: This Christian life is hard! – at times very, very hard, indeed almost too hard to bear. I wonder how bravely we have looked that truth right in the face. How realistically have we digested Jesus’ teaching about “taking up our cross” to follow him?

Two comments are worth adding…

First, while Paul is here reflecting on his own experience as a missionary and evangelist, there need be no doubt that what he says is true of anyone and everyone who is serious about living the Christian life. Hardship is, as they say, part of the package. So we mustn’t say “Ah yes, but that was Paul the apostle; that isn’t for us ordinary Christians”.

(Is this a passage to keep up your sleeve for next time somebody tries to tell you that the Christian life is easy?)

Second, we need to bear in mind that Paul here is looking back on these experiences with the benefit of hindsight: it’s a case of “emotion recollected in tranquillity”, to borrow Wordsworth’s phrase. Oh yes, Paul can see now how God brought him through. But it didn’t seem like that at the time, no, not at all.

When you’re in the thick of a hard time, very likely you can’t see your way through. And that’s when you depend especially on the prayers and support of others – so don’t keep it to yourself!

At the end of this chapter Paul puts all his suffering behind him and expresses his faith: “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal weight of glory that far outweighs them all” (verse 17). I can’t help smiling to see the grim sufferings of verses 8-9 described as “light and momentary troubles”.

But there you are… that’s what faith does for you!

O joy that seekest me though pain,/ I cannot close my heart to thee;/ I trace the rainbow through the rain,/ And feel the promise is not vain/ That morn shall tearless be. George Matheson (1842-1906)

Loving Lord God, give me grace always to trace the rainbow through the rain, to be both unflinchingly realistic and utterly trusting. Amen.