2 Corinthians 7:5 For even when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted at every turn—fighting without and fear within.
Paul returns to one of the key criticisms the Corinthians had against him: that he changed his mind and did not come to see them. His path was not an easy one. Everywhere he went, he faced opposition. Opposition can do one of two things in our lives: it can cause us to give up and doubt, or it can strength our faith because we learn to trust in God more.
When Paul went into Macedonia, he and his companions had some hard times. He faced two types of difficulties: outward/physical suffering and inward fear. Often the outward challenges we face cause the inner turmoil. Many people may not face outright persecution, although there is still much of this in the world, but we may face physical challenges due to poor economic situations, physical health and disease, or injury. Not all of these are due to our faith as believers, but sometimes these are. Stress is a subtle way that can eat away at us physically. We cannot always or even remove ourselves from the outward circumstances in which we live. Some people are stuck in a difficult job or an abusive or unloving family.
Whatever the situation may be, it can bring fear within us. Paul is honest in this verse about his own fears. We cannot but help to have fear sometimes. It is an emotion that prepares us for the battle of survival. But fear can also be debilitating. It is noteworthy that Paul uses two forms of fear in this chapter: v. 1 fear of God and v. 5 fear of outward circumstances. Fearing God will strengthen us against letting inner fear cause us trouble. Our fear of suffering can be changed to a deep trust in God because we love God and have committed our lives into his care. Trust is a difficult character quality to develop. We may not know how much we trust until we are put to the test.
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