Scripture

We think you ought to know, 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. 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.

Observation

Paul describes the troubles he and Timothy went through in the province of Asia. They were crushed beyond their ability to endure. Then they stopped trusting in their own abilities and trusted only in God.

God rescued them from mortal danger, and He will do it again. The Corinthians help by praying for them.

Paul says with confidence that he has lived with God-given holiness and sincerity. His letters have been straightforward with no hidden messages. When Jesus returns, they will be as proud of him as he is of them.

Application

Paul faced great opposition, even to the point of being close to death. That sounds scary, but it had the effect of forcing him to rely on God’s grace and not his own ability.

There is a saying that God will not send us anything that we can’t handle. That is not true. God does it all the time. He does promise that He will not send us anything too big that He can’t handle its.

The Lord is wanting too deepen our trust in Him. We face many trials in our life, some small but others seem huge at the time. In it all, God invites us to trust Him more. As we grow in our ability to trust the Lord, through smaller tests,He sends bigger tests to deepen that trust

Whatever tests I face today, Jesus is with me.

Prayer

Thank you father for the assurance that you will give me victory in every trial. Please help me to trust you. Amen.

Scripture

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort.

Observation

Paul was chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ. He writes, with Timothy, to the church in Corinth and to all the saints in Greece.

God is our Father and He is the source of all comfort. He comforts ui in our troubles so that we can comfort others when they are troubled.

The more we suffer, the more God pours out His comfort on us. When Paul is weighed down with troubles, God comforts him , and he is able to pass on the same comfort to others. As the Corinthians share in Paul’s suffering, they will also share in his comfort.

Application

God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort.

God is our Father. Jesus taught us to pray, “Our Father.” God is strong, mighty, and loving. He wants to see us thrive and grow in his love.

He is merciful. That mean that, because of the death of Jesus on the the cross, we now know forgiveness for our sins. Mercy means that our failings,,are acknowledged but put aside. We do not have to pay the penalty because Jesus did that.

God the Father is the source of all comfort. This is not a common word in the Bible. I looked up the Greek word and it has the same source as the word used for the Holy Spirit – paraclete. The Holy Spirit is described in John’s gospel as the comforter.

This is not talking about a comfortable chair or a soft bed. God comforts us in our sufferings and in our disappointments. He does not take away the pain of living in a sinful and broken world, but He comes beside us and reminds us of His presence. In that way He brings us comfort.

Prayer

Merciful Father, you are the source of all comfort. Please remind me to look to you when I am experienced distress of any kind. Amen.