The apostle Paul helps us run the race in so many ways. He especially helps us hang in there and keep moving forward during tough times since he himself spent maybe 25%+ of his ministry in prison. There are three passages in II Corinthians that are particularly impressive to help us press on.

*II Corinthians 1:3-11 – “…we despaired even of life; indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves in order that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead”. In other words, Paul thinks they may die BUT they continued on because even if they lose they win – even if they die they receive eternal life.

*II Corinthians 4:16-5:1 – “…we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day…we have a building from God…”.

*II Corinthians 12:7-10 – “…My grace is sufficient for you…when I am weak, then I am strong”.

All three passages speak of suffering but pressing on. Paul keeps trusting God. He knows God is with him AND he especially knows that even if he dies he has a home in heaven. Therefore, he presses on.

Read II Corinthians 1:3-11; 4:16-5:1; 12:7-10. Then listen to Press On by Mandisa. (Maybe your photo is in the video I this song.) And after that…PRESS ON TO THE TO THE END!!!

2 Corinthians 1:3-11

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ. But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer; and our hope for you is firmly grounded, knowing that as you are partners in our sufferings, so also you are in our comfort.

For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, of our affliction which occurred in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead, who rescued us from so great a danger of death, and will rescue us, He on whom we have set our hope. And He will yet deliver us, if you also join in helping us through your prayers, so that thanks may be given by many persons in our behalf for the favor granted to us through the prayers of many.

2 Corinthians 4:16-5:1

Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer person is decaying, yet our inner person is being renewed day by day. For our momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

For we know that if our earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made by hands, eternal in the heavens.

2 Corinthians 12:7-10

Because of the extraordinary greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself! Concerning this I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might leave me. And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in distresses, in persecutions, in difficulties, in behalf of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong.