Where is My Comfort During My Deepest Trials?

Scripture Reading: II Corinthians 4:7-18 I came to know an elderly couple some decades ago through online interaction. The husband has some serious health issues. But the condition of his wife was much worse. The woman had a back problem which prevented her from standing straight. She said that her physical posture is 'C' shaped. In spite of her infirmities her faith in God never wavered. She regularly emails scripture passages to all her friends. Here is one email I received from her.

II Corinthians 4:7-18 is very dear to me. It has gotten me through many a difficult time. We will all make it through as long as we stay focused on him, his precious word and the task at hand, his kingdom plan. It will not be easy at times, but it can be done with him by our side and the Holy Spirit working in and through each of us.

My paraphrasing:

Our strength and all-surpassing power

Comes from God not ourselves.

We may be at times---

Hard pressed, but not crushed;

Perplexed, but not in despair;

Persecuted, but not abandoned;

Struck down, but not destroyed. 

For our 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. 

For what is seen is temporary,

But what is unseen is eternal.

This day may we live our lives

To his honor and glory not our own.

Now, let us look into scripture for the God of all comfort.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”

And he is “the God of all comfort.” That phrase is the foundation of all true God-given consolation. It means that there is no sorrow to which he does not have a word of peace, no affliction to which he cannot minister strength, no desolation in which His presence cannot be felt. All comfort begins with God and ends with God. The same Lord who once said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28), still calls his people to himself. Paul speaks of this comfort in our deepest trials. “We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life”. (2 Corinthians 1:8). Yet out of that darkness he discovered that God comforts us in all our tribulation. Not in some, not in most—but in all. There is no circumstance too great for his comfort, and no child of God so broken that he cannot hold them and keep them, seeing that it is God’s gracious hand in Christ directing every loving chastisement for his glory. The comfort of God is the ministry of Christ to the soul through the Spirit, who is the Divine Parakletos (John 14:16).

Selie Visa