Some passages of Scripture fulfill this role – the role of busting myths. And one of the best myth-busting passages I know is 2 Corinthians 1:8-9: “We do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the hardships we encountered in the province of Asia. We were under a burden far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, we felt we were under the sentence of death, in order that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God, who raises the dead.”

What myth is thoroughly busted here? The myth that “God will never give us more than we can handle.”

In truth, God is forever giving us things we are ill equipped to handle. And as Paul notes here for us, that reality is found in the words in our text: “in order that.” So that.

Let me try to tease this out just a bit more.

In the opening portions of 2 Corinthians, Paul is wont to be sure his readers grasp just how traumatic and severe some of his trials have been. He says exactly that in vs. 8. He wanted them to be fully aware of the hardships he and his companions had encountered. Why? Because he is demonstrating what he had opened this letter by affirming – that Christians endure trials (if for no other reason – than) specifically that we might become conduits of God’s comforts to others, by sharing with them the comforts God has extended toward us in our trials.

And here, is where the rubber really meets the road for Paul.

We want you to know how tough it has been.

Things were so tough at one point, we assumed we would not make it through, but would actually die.

We actually gave up anticipating any relief.

And we came to that place for at least the following 3 reasons:

1 – So that we would learn not to trust in ourselves – in our wisdom, gifts, abilities or even our sense of mission. Not even to trust in our own faith.

2 – So that we might trust in God alone. To surrender any hope of anything or anybody being able to deliver us.

3 – So that we would consider the day of resurrection the real and final object of our help – not temporal relief. That we might become conduits forced to look to the glories to come, more than at the difficulties of the day.

And beloved, I cannot think of anything more necessary for us today in the Body of Christ, than to let our trials have their perfect work in weaning us away from the hopes of this life and this world – so as to (as Peter would later wrote): “Set your hope fully on the grace to be given you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 1:13, BSB)

To live in the awareness that if nothing changes for the better now, our hope is still inviolable and fixed – it is in the resurrection – in the revelation of Jesus Christ at his return.

This is what Paul and Peter had set their hearts and minds to grasp and live upon when all other hopes were lost.

Christ is coming.

Resurrection is coming.

The New Heavens and the New Earth are coming.

Glory is coming.

The fullness of all of Christ’s promises are coming.

I may not feel it today.

My vision may not allow me to glimpse it today.

But I can believe it and rest in it today – because my Redeemer, the one who died to purchase my soul with his own blood said: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe in Me as well. In My Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and welcome you into My presence, so that you also may be where I am.” (John 14:1–3, BSB)

And that dear ones, is enough.