“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.
“For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-10
This letter begins blessing the Lord, the God of mercies and all comfort. Grace and peace from Him. Blessed be He. All eyes on His supremacy and greatness as God and tender firmness as Father. Then Paul turns to the Corinthians’ suffering, only after it’s covered in the Lord and seen through the lens of His love.
That is how all suffering can be viewed. When seen in God’s economy, the harsher the affliction, the greater the comfort. The deeper the depravity, the greater the rescue. The worse the despair, the greater the deliverance. The farther the separation, the greater the salvation. God orders our afflictions to magnify His greatness and grace, not only to us, but to be spread abroad to others and result in praise. Broken glass crushed fine gets scattered by walking through it.
How do we view present afflictions? Do we compare troubles to former difficulty and pain and say we can take no more? Do we weigh with the world’s scales of rightful comfort and ease? Or do we see them borne on Christ’s shoulders, and meted out perfectly to us so we could experience His divine comfort? How will we share His imparted strength for today and hope for tomorrow?
“Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me,
for in you my soul takes refuge;
in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge,
till the storms of destruction pass by.
I cry out to God Most High,
to God who fulfills his purpose for me.
He will send from heaven and save me;
he will put to shame him who tramples on me.
God will send out his steadfast love and his faithfulness!..
My heart is steadfast, O God,
my heart is steadfast!
I will sing and make melody!
Awake, my glory!
Awake, O harp and lyre!
I will awake the dawn!
I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples.” Psalm 57:1-3,7-9
Lord, help me see afflictions through Your eyes, and gratefully share in Christ’s sufferings so I may also share in, and share abroad, His comforts.
As the rain and snow 