Are You Suffering???

Suffering. Hardship. Pain.  Those are words we don't really like to hear, and they are certainly words that we don't like to experience.  However, we need to see those words, hear those words, and experience those words from a biblical perspective.  Listen to the words of Paul, a man who understood suffering, hardship, and pain.  He says in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, "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 of our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God."  He goes on to say in verses 5 through 7, "For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.  If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer.  And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort."

I don't know what kind of suffering you are experiencing right now or what kind of hardship or pain you are experiencing right now.  It could be physical, emotional, relational, or financial suffering.  The pain could be annoying or it could be severe.  However, there are some incredible truths in 2 Corinthians 1 that can help you if you are willing to see them and hear them.  Paul tells us that our God is "the Father of COMPASSION and the God of all COMFORT."  He tells us that God "COMFORTS us in ALL our TROUBLES."  In other words, you have a compassionate Father who loves you so much that He can and He will give you comfort in ALL your troubles!  There is no suffering, hardship, or pain that exists that God can't comfort you.  It's not too small and it's not too big.  God has comfort for you!  Paul also shows us in this passage that God gives us His comfort so that we can be vessels of His comfort to others who are suffering through hardship and pain.  This is why it is so important to connect with other believers, to connect as a church family.  God's great comfort flows TO you and THROUGH you so that others may experience His comfort, as well!  We also see that God's comfort is available to us through His Son who suffered greatly - Jesus.  God's comfort "abounds through Christ."  

Whatever you are going through right now that is causing your suffering, God knows you and God loves you.  The hardship and the pain is real, but God's compassion and comfort is real, as well!  Turn to Jesus.  Turn your eyes to Jesus.  Turn your heart to Jesus.  Through Jesus you can experience ABOUNDING COMFORT that will help you endure the suffering, the hardship, and the pain.  When you make it through this suffering, God will use you to be a vessel of comfort to others who are suffering.  And remember Jesus' prediction and His promise to you that is found in John 16:33.  Jesus says, "I have told you these things, so that IN ME you may have PEACE.  In this world YOU WILL HAVE TROUBLE.  But TAKE HEART!  I have OVERCOME the world."  You don't have to overcome because Jesus has already overcome for you!  Turn to Jesus.  Rest in Jesus.  He is all you need.