Tag: afflictions

II Corinthians 1:8 ” We don’t want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life.”

2020 has started out to be a year of tremendous difficulties, afflictions, and grief.  And in many ways we all have been affected.  But the next time you’re tempted to go on Social Media and whine…ask yourself this question.  Am I attention-seeking, and eliciting participants in my personal pity-party…or am I like Paul who made his friends aware of the hardships he was enduring in order to show them where his trust rested?  For in the next verse, Paul points out that this happened that, “we might not rely on ourselves but on God…”   Enduring pain, bearing up under persecution, and experiencing grief are all part of the human experience…no one is immune.  But it’s how we react to it that makes the real difference.  It’s called suffering well.  Of placing our reliance on God rather than man…and of pointing to Him as the one we depend on…so that all the glory goes to Him, not us.

Romans 8:35-37 ” Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For Your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors.”

No matter what the world throws at you this coming year…remember that with the Lord you can overcome it.  Whether it be troubles pressing down upon you from the outside, or anguish that comes from within…you can rise above them all with His help.  Don’t try to make it on your own…God is there, ready to take those burdens.  And in the end, you’ll rise victorious over all the pain and suffering.