The reason God allows you and I to experience times that we are consumed by trials, when they are bigger than our own strength can handle, is so that we have nowhere else to turn except towards Him. We are faced with one solution and that is we realize Christ is our only hope!
After Paul wrote that his trial was bigger than his ability to endure, he offers an explanation.
2 Corinthians 1:9 "Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead..."
He recognized in this overwhelming time of trouble, that he couldn’t handle it alone, and it caused him to focus more on the power of God and allow God to work His perfect will in his life.
-Paul personified the word endurance.
2 Corinthians 11:24-28 "Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches."
This passage speaks of the difficult things that Paul had to endure. It all adds up to a pressure and pain far beyond our human capacity to handle alone. It is clear that Paul believed that even faithful Christians were not immune to severe trials and proved it because he went through them.
2 Timothy 3:12 "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution."
That’s the bad news, but the good news is that there is every reason for breakthrough even in the very face of severe trials because we are not alone. Paul was realistic. He knew that if we follow Christ for any length of time we will surely experience some form of suffering. But he was not pessimistic. Mixed in with the words listed above is another word he repeats 5 times:
Verses 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."
The Greek word used here is paraklésis, which means "a calling to one's aid, encouragement, comfort..."
-There may be trouble, but there is also “comfort.”
-There may be suffering, but there is also “comfort.”
-There may be distress or hardships, but there is also “comfort.”
Paul had every reason to encourage the Corinthians because he knew that whatever troubles came their way, God’s comfort would be more than sufficient.
When life’s difficulties seem unbearable God’s grace and comfort will be equal to your need. His presence will bear you up and his supernatural help will be sufficient. Our hardships may be quite different from Paul’s, but we can certainly identify with him when we face seemingly overwhelming trials in this fallen world. God hasn’t promised us an easy path, but he has promised to be with us.
Paul not only encourages the Corinthians with the promise of available comfort, but he also provides a plan for handling whatever suffering may come their way. It is a plan that is appropriate for any believer in the throes of difficult times.
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