Being Overwhelmed by Christ and Underwhelmed by Trials

2 Corinthians 4:1-18

Therefore having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you.

Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

Christian Confidence in Trials

Having established Christian confidence, the Apostle Paul now provides practical instruction on how not to be overwhelmed by problems. Paul and others experienced difficult circumstances—suffering, affliction—that weigh heavily, seeming hopeless and suffocating. As Christians, we are promised trials, nearly impossible without turning to something for relief.

No matter the problem, there is a way to go through circumstances without being overwhelmed. We may not change our situations, but we can change how we experience them—our attitudes, reactions, responses. We can face adversity with a smile, joy, and quality amid meaninglessness.

This passage teaches how not to be overwhelmed by circumstances, but by something else. We will be overwhelmed by something in chapter 4. Choose rightly, and troubles become bearable. Paul's point: Be overwhelmed by the awesomeness of Jesus Christ to avoid being overwhelmed by problems. Be underwhelmed by trials by being overwhelmed with Christ.

The inverse is possible: underwhelmed by Christ's glory, overwhelmed by situations. The issue is how we view problems versus Christ—what we know about our situations eclipses what we know about Him. We are experts on our struggles: how they feel, their difficulty, contributing factors. But our knowledge of Christ's magnificence may fall short.

Every person who looks at Jesus through the lens of their situation sees Christ smaller; the situation looms larger—like a mountain blocking a desired destination. Your troubles seem big, real, significant, shrinking Christ's true size.

Every Christian who views circumstances through Christ sees them diminish in intensity. Situations may not change or may worsen, but through Christ's lens, their overwhelming power shrinks.

Overwhelmed or Underwhelmed?

Overwhelming is too strong, intense, big, impressive to handle. Underwhelming fails to impress or impact. If Christ is underwhelming—unimpressive—He fails to impact your life. You seek distractions from situations, but they fail. Only Christ impresses permanently, enabling meaningful endurance.

To not lose heart or be overwhelmed by trials, understand three truths:

1. You Will Be Overwhelmed If There Is a Veil

Paul connects to chapter 3: "Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart." This ministry—greater than Moses'—proclaims the gospel, displaying Christ's glory for eternal life.

When Moses is read, a veil lies over their hearts, hiding glory (2 Corinthians 3). Veiled, they cannot see; unveiled, we behold the Lord's glory, transformed from one degree to another (2 Corinthians 3:18). Growing in Christ's glory prevents losing heart.

God's full glory overwhelms to death—even Moses saw only aftereffects. We progress on a spectrum: from little glory to more via pure Scripture, without tampering. Reading the Bible exposes Christ's glory.

If the gospel is veiled, it is to those perishing. Believers see unveiled. If you don't see Christ's glory in Scripture, you may be perishing—cry out for salvation—or need more gospel exposure. Both require more Jesus: study, think, preach the gospel to yourself.

This is counseling's foundation: Situations unchanged, you change experience via Christ's glory—like Peter walking on water eyes-fixed on Jesus. Look away to waves, sink. Supernatural experience comes through Christ.

2. You Will Be Overwhelmed If There Are Vices

Vices—immorality, sin—unchecked overwhelm by circumstances. Sinless, you'd respond perfectly with joy, as Christ did amid crucifixion and wrath (Hebrews 12). Our situations, less severe, are endurable with Him.

Paul renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways, refusing cunning or tampering with God's Word—renouncing vices, disowning sin as a parent disowns a child.

Light and darkness oppose; sinners hide vices from light lest exposed (John 3). Hidden sins—underhanded, cunning, disgraceful—weigh like rocks or ankle weights, entangling like anacondas (Hebrews 12). They hinder joyful endurance.

As saved soldiers in a won war, we sometimes revive dying sins in private, nursing them. Unaddressed vices overwhelm; counselees saying "I can't" reveal Christ's underwhelming impact.

3. You Won't Be Overwhelmed with Christ's Victory

We have treasure in jars of clay: surpassing power is God's. Afflicted but not crushed, perplexed but not despairing, persecuted but not forsaken, struck down but not destroyed (2 Corinthians 4:7-9).

Afflicted—pressed on every side, walls closing in. Perplexed—minds taxed to despair's edge. Persecuted—beaten everywhere, yet never forsaken. Something prevents extremes: Christ's death and life manifested in us advances the gospel.

Outer self wastes; inner renewed daily. Light, momentary affliction prepares eternal weight of glory beyond comparison—looking not to seen (transient) but unseen (eternal) (2 Corinthians 4:16-18).

Paul bookends: We do not lose heart. Suffering feels heavy, endless—not light, momentary. But compared to Christ's victory—death conquered, inner renewal, eternal glory—afflictions diminish. Suffering invests in eternal glory's bank, making it weightier.

Focus on Christ's victory over sin, securing eternity. Seen things loom large; unseen make suffering light, momentary. In 10,000 years of glory, afflictions fade, remembered to glorify Christ.