Key scripture – “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)

Pastor Charles Swindol says, of all the letters Paul wrote, Second Corinthians is the most autobiographical. In this letter Paul records the specifics of his anguish, tears, affliction, and satanic opposition. He spells out the details of his persecution, loneliness, imprisonments, beatings, feelings of despair, hunger, shipwrecks, sleepless nights, and that “thorn in the flesh”—his companion of pain.

“Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.” (2 Corinthians 6:4-10).

It makes you feel close to Paul when you see him as a man with real, honest-to-goodness problems, just like yours!

It is not surprising, then, that he begins the letter with words of comfort, especially verses 3 through 11. Ten times in five verses (vv. 3–7) Paul uses the same root word, Parakaleo, meaning literally, “to call alongside.”

This word, “comfort,” involves more than a shallow pat on the back. This word involves genuine, in-depth understanding . . . deep-down compassion and sympathy. This seems especially appropriate since it says that God, our Father, is the “God of all comfort” who “comforts us in all our affliction.” Our loving Father is never preoccupied or removed when we are enduring sadness and affliction!

There is another observation worth noting in 2 Corinthians 1. No less than three reasons are given for suffering, each one introduced with the word “that”: “that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction”; “that we would not trust in ourselves”; “that thanks may be given” (vv. 4, 9, 11). Admittedly, there may be dozens of other reasons, but here are three specific reasons we suffer.

Reason #1: “that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction” (v.4); God allows suffering so that we might have the capacity to enter into others’ sorrow and affliction.

Reason #2: “that we would not trust in ourselves” (v.9); God allows suffering so that we might learn what it means to depend on Him. Over and over He reminds us of the danger of pride, but it frequently takes suffering to make the lesson stick.

Reason #3: “that thanks may be given” (v. 11); God allows suffering so that we might learn to give thanks in everything. Now, honestly, have you said, “Thank You, Lord, for this test”? Have you finally stopped struggling and expressed to Him how much you appreciate His loving sovereignty over your life? Have you thanked Him that when you come out on the other side of the trial you will be more holy?

“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:17-18).

Do you realize how unfinished and rebellious and proud and unconcerned and selfish we would be without suffering!

Pastor, A.W. Tozer said it best: “It is doubtful whether God can bless a man greatly until He has hurt him deeply.”

Pray this – Our Precious Heavenly Father, I will consider it all joy every time You heat up the furnace in my life. I will not gripe, complain or fuss because I “know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:3-4). Each and every trial is making me more mature and complete as a Christian. Help me to always remember that the trials in my life are light and momentary afflictions that are achieving an eternal glory, and that I can make it through anything because You are with me and You will never forsake or abandon me. Like Paul, “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9). Thank You Father that Jesus, the Merciful and Faithful High Priest, is there for me and He knows exactly what I am going through because He suffered too. Thank You for the comfort that You give me every day. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.