We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would not live through it. 2 Corinthians 1: 8 NLT.
Paul begins this second letter to the church in Corinth with some of the most hopeful scriptures we can rely on when difficult trials come our way. He reminds us very clearly: all praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. 2 Corinthians 1:3 NLT. Hmm, do you believe that He is the source of all comfort? Last week I went through a difficult spiritual and emotional battle. Have you ever had one of those? It was later in the evening, and I tried to call my son, but he didn’t answer. (Found out the next day, his phone was on “do not disturb” because he wasn’t feeling well.) So I turned to the Lord and said, “Well, Jesus, I guess it’s just you and me, again”. During those battle times, I know that He is the only one who could really give me the peace and comfort I needed…but I still wanted someone with skin on. I actually apologized to Him, for not acting like He was enough.
The promise we can cling to is found in the next verse. He comforts us in all our troubles so we can comfort others. 2 Corinthians 1:9. My friends, I want to remind you that all of your trials and difficulties are not just for you alone, but as we allow Him to comfort us, we can pass on that comfort to others and strengthen God’s church. It becomes God’s domino effect–touching lives with our story, which they can share yours and their own and it gets passed on to many.
2 Corinthians 1:8 is interesting to me. Paul writes, we think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. It is hard to read and really comprehend that he and his friends were so crushed and overwhelmed that they thought they were not going to make it. Even in my spiritual battle the other day, no matter how tough it was, I knew I was going to wake up and be ok. But the next verse shows us Paul’s perspective on the trial. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead. 2 Corinthians 1:9. Even though Paul had endured a lot by the time of this writing. There is some disagreement about his actual timeline, but for the most part by the time he wrote 2 Corinthians he had been on at least three different missionary journeys, so he had endured a lot. It only seems fitting that he had already learned to rely on the Lord, but here he states we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God. That in itself is amazing, but he adds the tag line: who raises the dead. Paul depended upon the power of God to do and endure what he was called to do. So should we. He might have wanted to quit, but he didn’t.
Paul goes on to write: And he did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us. Paul expected to need rescuing again! Most of us today would be grateful for one rescue, and decide that is enough! But he set himself to run his race, no matter what the cost and where it took him. Have you done that? Have you settled in your heart, that no matter what, you will follow Him and His ways? He continues with: And you are helping us by praying for us. Then many people will give thanks because God has graciously answered so many prayers for our safety. 2 Corinthians 1:11. NLT.
I know someone whose mother distributed smuggled Bibles illegally during the Cold War. They knew people who were arrested and tortured for their faith in Eastern Europe, but they were willing to risk their own imprisonment for their brethren’s sake. Other than that, the only “persecuted” believers I know are those who have been mocked by friends and family, but never in “mortal” danger. Reading through Voice of the Martyrs magazine, there are people all over the world who are being physically tortured for their faith. I think the Holy Spirit wants to strengthen us to stand, equipped with the armor of God not matter our trial. If we are not in the midst of active fire, what is our job? According to these scriptures, we are to pray for them and share their stories. We aren’t to compare ourselves among ourselves about who has it the worse. We are to run our own race, chosen by Him. It is my heart to encourage you, no matter where you are. As I read this scripture, I found so much comfort knowing that God is helping my family and their battles learn to rely on Him even more. We are trusting Him to answer our prayer for His glory, not our own.
No matter what kind of trial you are facing today, please know that there is hope in Him. Learning to rely on Him is never a bad thing.
Father, I thank you for Paul’s words to us this day. I thank you that you are the Comforter who not only comforts us in our trials, but teaches us how to comfort others. I ask you to teach us how to further rely on you and your ways, in Jesus’ Name, amen.
Faith Encounters 