Seek God When You Need a Fresh Perspective - iBelieve Truth: A Devotional for Women - September 19, 2026
iBelieve Truth: A Devotional for Women
Audio By Carbonatix
By Carolyn Dale Newell, Crosswalk.com
"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 4:8-9 NIV
I didn’t think I needed a new perspective on my life, but that’s usually when we need it most. As I scrolled through social media, I was drawn to testimonies from people living with chronic pain and illnesses like mine. There was one distinct difference between us. They lived in chronic pain, but one thing became incredibly clear. They had a better outlook on life than I did. I wish I could share in that same attitude. They didn’t give up on healing, but they had learned to accept their present circumstances with grace and joy.
Then I came across our focal verse. I desperately wanted to share the perspective of the Apostle Paul. He had endured imprisonment, beatings, stoning, and shipwreck. He had been left for dead, but God intervened. If Paul could live these words out and honestly believe them, I certainly could as well. Sweet friend, you can do it too. I marked this verse in my Bible app, and every time I woke up in the middle of the night, unable to sleep due to the pain, I read the Scriptures. I memorized them, and even better, in time, I came to believe them myself.
Let’s unpack our verses. We are hard-pressed, but not crushed. Do you ever feel like everything is pressing in on you from every direction? You have financial pressures or family pressures, and let’s not forget the pressure that comes with health problems. We all have seasons when life feels like a pressure cooker, but the good part is that we are not crushed. The pressure continues to build, but no matter what, it doesn’t crush us. That is a reason to praise God.
Next, Paul writes that we are perplexed, but not in despair. Do you feel there is no answer to your problem, or like no one can help you, but God? I must confess that I struggled with this one because I was in despair, and you may also. That gives us an opportunity to work on ourselves. I found ways to keep myself from falling into the pit of despair. If the Apostle Paul could avoid despair with all he endured, I knew I could. How can you lean into God if despair is a problem for you?
To stay out of the darkness of despair, I took my thoughts captive as I moved forward with my life, trusting God and finding comfort in His sovereignty. The thoughts that brought me discouragement came often, so I continually refused to allow them to take root in my mind. Knowing God is in control brings me great comfort. How can you find comfort in God? Next, Paul says he had been persecuted but never abandoned by God. Have you traversed persecution on the job or at school? Maybe there’s been persecution by family members. When all others abandon you, Jesus Christ has promised that He will never leave you (Hebrews 13:5). Rest in that truth today when you feel abandoned and alone.
Finally, we are struck down but never destroyed. We can be struck down by financial blows or blows to our health. The enemy may desire to strike us down, but Christ won that victory two thousand years ago. We will never be destroyed, even if we lose everything, we still have Christ. Even death will never destroy the child of God.
When pain, the job, your family, or just life presses in, how might God use these verses to calm your heart? How can you lean into Him when you feel persecuted? Whatever your struggle today, please remember that you are never crushed, abandoned, or destroyed, and you don’t have to give in to despair. Christ has won that battle for us. We live in His victory. I hope these verses bring you the clear perspective they brought me. Life in this world can drag us down, and we must seek God for the mind of Christ, so we can walk in victory.
Let's pray ...
Heavenly Father,
Sometimes life brings me down, and I do need a new perspective. You can put me back on the right track. You never leave me or forsake me, and I can trust You.
Amen.
What truth from today’s devotional is God using to encourage your heart? Share your reflection and join our conversation in the iBelieve Truth Devotional Forum.
Feel like digging a little deeper? Here is a wonderful resource to meet you right where you are. 9 Prayers to Gain a Heart for Heaven + Daily Prayer Journal
GO DEEPER:
Photo Credit: ©Unsplash/Frank McKenna
Carolyn Dale Newell is a best-selling author and certified speaker. She knows the bitter taste of suffering from blindness to chronic pain. Her passion is to encourage women to keep their eyes on Jesus and not their circumstances in her devotional, Embers of Endurance: Rising Above Chronic Pain and Illness. You can connect with Carolyn on her website and her women’s ministry group on Facebook.
Related Resource: The Blind Spots Hurting Your Relationships
In this episode of I Wish You Could Hear This, Shaunti and Jeff Feldhahn sit down with licensed professional counselor and bestselling author Debra Fileta for an honest and insightful conversation about the relationship blind spots many of us don’t realize we have. Together, they explore how emotional patterns, past wounds, and unrecognized habits can quietly shape the way we connect with others.
Debra shares practical wisdom on how to grow in self-awareness, strengthen communication, and take ownership of the ways we impact the people we love. Whether you’re dating, married, leading others, or simply wanting healthier relationships, this episode offers hope-filled tools to help you break unhealthy cycles and build deeper connection.
If you’ve ever wondered why relationships can feel harder than they should—or how to become a healthier version of yourself—this conversation is for you. Like what you hear? Be sure to follow I Wish You Could Hear This on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
Like what you hear? Be sure to follow I Wish You Could Hear This on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
