Pain, Pain, Go Away

Psalm 34:19 Romans 5:3-5; 1 Peter 5:10; James 1:2-4; Romans 8:18; 2 Corinthians 4:8-10 

Paul opens his second letter to the Corinthians with his usual greeting and then begins a discussion on comfort through affliction. Pain is something we certainly don't like to deal with. There's no simple way around it, suffering is not fun. But in these first few verses of this letter, Paul lists several helpful results from our afflictions and the comfort we receive in them.

First, through the comfort we receive from the Lord,  we are able to comfort others in their suffering. We are to share in one another's burdens and walk through difficulties with each other. We are to encourage each other in God's mercies and compassion. God is able to sustain us through all kinds of difficulties. He is our strength. We need to remind one another of His goodness and His comfort.

Secondly, our afflictions direct us towards patience. Verse 6 says if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer. Suffering will cause us to patiently endure. We can endure because we know the hope that is in Christ Jesus. 

Thirdly, our sufferings direct us toward a deeper trust in God. Through our pain, we cry out to the Father. When things are too unbearable for us to handle, we have nowhere to turn but God. Only He can provide the comfort that we truly need in our deepest sorrow and pain. Without hope in Christ man is truly lost and pitiful.

Lastly, through our pain and suffering, we are encouraged to unite in prayer. We are one body, the body of Christ. We are to pray one for another, lifting our petitions before God in unity, trusting that as I pray for you, you will pray for me. Prayer, and the great need for it as we journey through our difficulties, brings us together. And as Paul says in verse 11, it is all for God's glory, so that many will give thanks to Him. 

2 Corinthians 1:3–4 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 will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

Pastor Mike Deese