The
heartbreaking stories keep coming. The friend whose grown daughter has left her
husband and kids. The dads I recently met who lost their teen sons in car
accidents. Someone, whose retirement years have been marked by a string of bad
medical news. You know the stories. You may have your own.
Where do
we go for help when struggles and pain threaten to shake our faith and steal
our last ounce of joy?
Second
Corinthians 1:3 may be just the right destination. It is full of hope, help,
and possibilities.
Examine
what that verse tells us: Paul lifts praise to God on two levels (and remember,
Paul had more struggles and trouble than most of us could stand). First, he
simply sends praise to God, who is not just our God but the God and Father of
Jesus Himself. Think
about the power and the love behind that!
Then he
gives us even better news: Our heavenly Father is the God of mercy and
compassion. He cares for us with an everlasting, gracious love. And there’s
more—He is also the God of all comfort.
Need
compassion? Need comfort? Go to God. He has an endless supply and is ready to
pour it out on you in abundance. He is what we need in times of trouble!
God’s
whisper of comfort helps quiet the noise of our trials. (RBC)
