DAILY BREAD READING (Published Daily by Our Daily Bread Ministries)
March 21, 2026
READ: 2 Corinthians 4 (Focus vs. 5-12)
MEMORY VERSE
“We . . . are . . . always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake.”2 Corinthians 4:11
BACKGROUND
“I lift mine eyes, but dimm’d with grief / No everlasting hills I see,” wrote the Victorian poet Christina Rosetti in her poignant poem “A Better Resurrection.” Rosetti’s poem describes grasping for hope when she feels none, “numb’d too much for hopes or fears.”
Yet Rosetti was anchored in a hope deeper than her feelings of despair. Though she could see “no bud nor greenness” pointing to Christ’s resurrection renewing her life, she confessed, “Yet rise it shall” and prayed, “O Jesus, rise in me.”
In 2 Corinthians, the apostle Paul also described experiencing suffering “far beyond [his] ability to endure, so that [he] despaired of life itself” (1:8). But he found that his despair taught him to find his hope only in “God, who raises the dead” (v. 9).
And he learned that as we carry the hope of the gospel in the still-imperfect “jars of clay” of our bodies, Christ’s resurrection life and hope shine through, revealing “that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us” (4:7).
This shift happens in Rosetti’s poem too. As she lifted her broken heart up to God, her prayer became only that the broken pieces of her life would be “cast in the fire” to be molded and transformed into an offering “for Him, my King.” Her poem concludes simply: “O Jesus, drink of me.”
Monica La Rose
INSIGHT
What does Paul mean when he writes, “Even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing” (2 Corinthians 4:3)? We find the answer in chapter 3, where he recalls how Moses would “put a veil over his face” (v. 13) when he descended from Mount Sinai.
He had to do so because God’s glory still shone from his face after he’d spoken with Him (see Exodus 34:29-35). At that time, the Almighty was too terrifying to approach (19:12-13).
Paul wrote, “Even to this day, when Moses [the Law] is read, a veil covers [the people’s] hearts. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away” (2 Corinthians 3:15-16).
The ancient Israelites found God unapproachable, but we, by the power of Jesus, can draw near to Him. We can boldly bring Him all our pain, fears, and doubts and find confidence and comfort.
APPLICATION
How can voicing our pain honestly to God bring comfort and hope? How have you experienced Him transforming the pieces of your life?
PR’s (Pastor Richard) RE-EMPHASIS (From Today’s Post)
“The ancient Israelites found God unapproachable, but we, by the power of Jesus, can draw near to Him. We can boldly bring Him all our pain, fears, and doubts and find confidence and comfort.”
Tim Gustafson
PR’s TAKE
“Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:14-16 esv
PRAYER
“Dear God, thank You that hope is real even when I can’t feel it. Please help me to offer my life to You.”
TODAY’S HYMN/WORSHIP/PRAISE/GOSPEL SONG
“FILL ME UP” Tasha Cobbs Leonard
…You provide the fire
I’ll provide the sacrifice
You provide the spirit
And I will open up inside
You provide the fire
I’ll provide the sacrifice
You provide the spirit
I will open up inside
Fill me up God
Fill me up God
Fill me up God…
We need more of you, yeah
You provide the fire (come one, you say it,)
I’ll provide the sacrifice
I’ll provide the sacrifice
“You provide the spirit”
You provide the spirit (I will, I will)
I will open up inside (you gotta tell him,)
You provide the fire (I will be the sacrifice)
I’ll provide the sacrifice…
You provide the spirit…
I will open up inside
Fill me up God
Fill me up God
Fill me up God
Fill me up…
