When we come under attack by the enemy, we can tap into the same kind of courage that Joshua demonstrated when he conquered the city of Jericho. An easy way to understand courage is to associate it with a buoyant spirit, the kind of attitude that just will not be put down or made bitter because of difficulties and challenges.
A buoyant spirit always comes back up whenever it’s pushed down. Hard times and difficulties may attempt to discourage us and to drain us of our courage, but having a buoyant spirit means when we get pushed down we always come back up to the top. When trouble hits and tries to drown us, it can be as though there is a spring deep inside of us that always thrusts us up above the trouble.
The great men and women who have inspired us that we read about in the Bible have this buoyancy about them. They will not be distracted or moved off what they know the Holy Spirit is leading them to do.
The Apostle Paul is, of course, one of these inspiring and buoyant people. He experienced more difficulties and hardships than most. Yet, he always rose above them.
Notice in 2 Corinthians 4:7-9: “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not us. 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.”
These statements were made by a man of God who would not be intimidated! Again Paul said, “Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ…” (2 Corinthians 2:14). He had literally triumphed over every kind of attack imaginable by the power of God’s treasure within him.
Many people quote these statements to identify Paul with their own misery. But if we are going to identify with Paul’s trouble, then we must also identify with his buoyancy and victory.
Let’s read Second Corinthians 4:8 again and take note of the words in italics: “…not distressed…not in despair…not forsaken…not destroyed.” Notice also verse 9 in the Phillips translation: “…we may be knocked down but we are never knocked out!” The greatest mistake we can make during difficult times is to give up. When the issues of life come to squash us down, we must shake off the distress, despair, and discouragement that accompany them.
When Satan tries to amplify the feelings of being forsaken in our minds, we must cast off those feelings. We must resist every emotion that tries to pull us down. Instead, we must encourage ourselves with the words: “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So we may boldly say: ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?’” (Hebrews 13:5-6). The Lord will never forsake us!
Stir up the forces of God’s treasure within you by praying in the spirit and face the challenge that is against you with the power of God’s Word.
