Hope

DEVOTION

PROVERBS

Hope

Prov 18:14

14 A man's spirit sustains him in sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear?

NIV

The spirit of a person when it is in good conscience or sound mind gives such a person the ability to sustain themselves through the most difficult of situations in life. When we are sick or under the pressures of life we make our way through them. Many books have been written about a positive mental attitude. It would seem even without a firm relationship with God a person can withstand the most difficult of times. We believers have even a greater advantage then those who do not believe. When we face the greatest of difficulties whether they be of some physical infirmity or financial setback, our trust in God gives us a strength to endure through them all. When we consider the great situation Adam and Eve were in living in the Garden of Eden, having everything they would ever need as well as being able to walk and talk with God, it must have been a wonderful time. Even when they were disobedient and were cast out of the most perfect situation their spirit was able to sustain them and Adam was able to toil the ground all the days of his life for his sustenance.  He did not break under the pressure of life. But when the spirit is crushed it is a different story. This crushing of the spirit is caused by the weight of sin. No man can bear up under this kind of crushing. Sin cannot be endured by the spirit of man alone. This is when man needs God.  How can we, by our own spirit, our own positive attitude, our own strength and fortitude save ourselves from the penalty of sin? Even Adam as his spirit was able to sustain him, was not able to enter paradise again unless he sought the forgiveness of God. Although we can endure anything this world has to offer we cannot endure the penalty of sin, we will perish. We need God. This is why Jesus said unless we are born again we cannot see the kingdom of God. A crushed spirit under the weight of sin cannot enter the kingdom of God and so it must die and a new spirit is born when we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. When this new spirit is born it no longer is crushed by sin. Now we can endure death of the body as well as all this life has to offer. We live because he lives. We live with all the hope and joy Jesus brings to us. We live with confidence and without fear because we not only have a new spirit who is able to live rejoicing in this life, but one who will rejoice in eternal life. Because he lives we can face tomorrow.