As biblical counselors, we always want to connect the most relevant biblical passage to our unique counselee’s specific life situation. However, “pet passages” can exert such influence on us that we unhelpfully force them onto people in a one-size-fits-all manner.

A Frequently Focused-On Biblical Counseling Verse: 1 Corinthians 10:13

I believe that 1 Corinthians 10:13 can become such a verse. In our biblical counseling world, 1 Corinthians 10:13 is an oft-repeated passage.

“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”

Wonderful verse. Powerful. Inerrant. Inspired.

One verse in our “arsenal” of biblical counseling passages.

However, the second any counselee utters the words, “I feel overwhelmed,” we race to 1 Corinthians 10:13 as if it is the only passage to consider. What if there are other passages—such as 2 Corinthians 1:8-9—that may better fit the situational and soul context of suffering that seems overwhelming?  

Far Beyond Our Ability to Endure: 2 Corinthians 1:8-9

Here’s another passage… By the same author. With another perspective.

“We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, 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. Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened so that we might not rely upon ourselves, but on God—the One who raises the dead” (2 Corinthians 1:8-9).

The same Paul who said we wouldn’t be tempted beyond what we can bear, said that in some trials he despaired even of life itself. The same Paul who said God will provide a way out so we can endure temptations, said he experienced some troubles so great that they seemed beyond his ability to endure.

There’s never any contradiction in Scripture, and surely there’s no contradiction in these two passages. The contexts are different—one passage speaking of temptations (toward sin), the other speaking of trials (in suffering).

And that’s my point. Let’s not always race to 1 Corinthians 10:13 to provide biblical hope in temptation. At times, our counselee may need 2 Corinthians 1:8-9 to offer biblical honesty about life’s troubles. With that in mind, let’s explore 2 Corinthians 1:8-9 a bit further…  

Honesty About Our Vulnerability

Paul starts, “We do no want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the troubles we experienced…” (2 Corinthians 1:8). We think counselees need us to have it all together so they can trust us. Paul thought the Corinthians needed to know he struggled, too, so together they could trust Christ!

Recently, a pastor asked his wife if he and she could meet with me to discuss some ministry trials they were enduring. Her response, “Talk to your professor!?” Emphasis on professor. You know, that professional Christian, academic, who has it all together.

So, we started our first Zoom meeting. I could see and feel her reticence, her hesitance. They shared. I listened. We explored more. I empathized. Then I shared briefly my own 2 Corinthians 1:8-9 ministry experience. Now I could see and feel the walls come down. I was no longer “the professor.” I was now a fellow human being. Or, as Jay Adams used to say, a “human becoming.” A work in progress. Frail. A jar of clay—like this ministry couple.

Many of our counselees experience shame and condemnation over the fact that they need help. “I’m a Christian. I should be able to figure this out and handle it on my own!”

And then you and I enter their picture—biblical counselors. We have it all together, right? Nope. The best gift we can give our brothers and sisters is Paul’s gift of honesty about our own vulnerability.

Journey Together, Hearing and Entering People’s Situational Story

Martin Luther talked about two levels of faith struggles. The first focused on the situation—the external trials that happen to us. The second level focused on the soul—the internal trials that happen in us.

Paul highlights those same two levels in his life. And we should do the same with our counselees.

First, Paul highlights his situational struggles. The Greek word behind “troubles” (2 Corinthians 1:8) has the idea of outside pressure that constricts, that hems us in. Picture being trapped inside four walls that are inexorably closing in upon you until there’s no room to move, to breathe. It’s external pressure that tempts us toward internal despair.

In working with counselees, let’s hear and enter their situational story—in all its sadness, fear, confusion, pain. Where do they feel constricted? Conflicted? What’s happening to them that feels overwhelming? Who else is in their situational story? What roles are they taking in their situational story? Listen and learn… Empathize and comfort…

Journey Togethering, Hearing and Entering People’s Soul Story 

Paul transitions from external trials to internal suffering as he describes the “pressure” he felt. He was under great pressure far beyond his ability to endure (2 Corinthians 1:8). He felt weighted down. Picture trying to bench press 2,000 pounds and the barbell crushing your chest. 

This weight felt “far beyond” Paul’s ability to endure. The Greek word for “far beyond” is a form of our word hyperbole. Except Paul wasn’t exaggerating his internal distress. His trials felt excessively beyond his power to endure.

The result? He despaired of life (2 Corinthians 1:8). Paul’s not mincing words here. “Despair” means to be utterly at a loss, to feel as if we’re left without any resource or recourse. Picture being trapped with no way out, no exit strategy, no escape hatch, no panic room. It’s to be in utter, complete despair. Greek scholars also note that “despair” conveys the end impact of complete disorientation and utmost complexity that comes when you believe you have no way of escape. It is our despondent soul saying, “I can’t cope! I just can’t go on!”

I’m emotionally exhausted just writing that last weighty paragraph. Now imagine what it might be like to be living that last paragraph. Perhaps you don’t have to imagine it—perhaps you have experienced it. You’ve experienced feeling like you have “received the sentence of death” (2 Corinthians 1:9).

Vulnerable counselees need permission to express the inner despair they may be experiencing. What better way to give biblical Christians permission to be brutally honest than to biblically explore Paul’s brutal honesty in 2 Corinthians 1:8-9? Explore this passage together. Then ask:

“In what ways might Paul’s experience resonate with yours? How could you paraphrase these two verses to help me to get a glimpse of what you’re experiencing? In what ways might it help you to open up, knowing how open and vulnerable ‘the great Apostle Paul’ is in this passage?”

The Rest of the Story 

I get it. Some of us are quite comfortable ending this story in the casket of despair. That’s why there’s the rest of 2 Corinthians 1:9. “But this happened so that we might not rely on ourselves, but on God—the One who raises the dead.”

In biblical counseling, first we sustain. We empathize. We communicate, “it’s normal to hurt. You have permission to grieve and groan. Life is bad in our fallen world. The Apostle Paul can relate.”

Then, we bring healing hope. We encourage. We communicate, “it’s possible to hope. Even when life is bad, God is good—He’s good all the time. Let’s crop Christ and His resurrection hope into your seemingly hopeless situation.”

But healing hope is a blog post for another time (coming soon to a blog near you as A Tale of Two Trusts). For now, back to our original point. Let’s not always race to 1 Corinthians 10:13 to provide biblical hope in temptation. Let’s also run to 2 Corinthians 1:8-9 to offer our counselees biblical honesty about life’s troubles. 

Join the Conversation 

How does Paul’s honest vulnerability in 2 Corinthians 1:8-9 give you permission to honestly face what your soul is experiencing?

We use 1 Corinthians 10:13 a lot, rightfully so, in biblical counseling. What could it be like for you to add 2 Corinthians 1:8-9 to your counseling repertoire?