We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. 9 Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. 

I seem to remember a story about the missionary, Hudson Taylor. On one occasion he was asked, ‘Is pressure good for you?’ ‘Yes’, he replied, so long as it presses you closer to the heart of God.’

This was Paul’s own experience. In the face of great troubles, he was thrown back on God.

We don’t know precisely what this ‘’great pressure’’ was, but he felt like one living under the sentence of death, just waiting for the axe to fall. But in these torrid experiences he was to prove God’s power (as well as His comfort).

This is how Eugene Peterson renders the passage in ‘The Message’ Bible:

‘’ We don’t want you in the dark, friends, about how hard it was when all this came down on us in Asia province. It was so bad we didn’t think we were going to make it. We felt like we’d been sent to death row, that it was all over for us. As it turned out, it was the best thing that could have happened. Instead of trusting in our own strength or wits to get out of it, we were forced to trust God totally—not a bad idea since he’s the God who raises the dead!’’

When you get to ‘Wits End Corner’ expect to meet God there!