If you are experiencing difficult circumstances in your life today, I want to encourage you to turn to the Scriptures for comfort and hope today.
The Bible says in Romans 15:4, “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” God’s promises will give you the faith to overcome any challenge!
But also, the experiences of the heroes of faith in the Bible are an example for us, from which we can draw courage and hope. One of the greatest examples of persevering faith in the Bible is the Apostle Paul. In the book of 2 Corinthians, Paul writes to the church at Corinth which he planted. Other leaders had began to turn the Corinthians against Paul, and he found it necessary to defend his apostleship and authority.
One of the things he pointed out to the Corinthians was the severe trials and difficulty he had endured for the sake of the Gospel. In 2 Cor. 11, Paul wrote:
22 Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I. 23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. 24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. 25 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; 26 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; 27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. 28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?
Paul encouraged the Corinthians to find comfort in knowing that the Lord’s strength worked through his human weakness, enabling him to overcome the attacks of satan.No matter how hard it got, Paul refused to quit. And as long as he never gave up, the Lord was faithful to bring him through, and in the end, God got the Glory! In that same book, Paul wrote:
3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; 4 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. (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. 8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; 10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. 11 For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. 12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you. (2 Cor. 4:7-12)
And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. (2 Cor. 12:7-10)
When facing severe trials, it is important not to try to be a superhero and “tough it out” alone. As members of one body in Christ, we need each other. During difficult times, we need to turn to seasoned saints of God who have overcome similar trials as you might be facing. Paul himself drew comfort from others.
He had sent Titus to Corinth to encourage and instruct them, but also to find out how they were doing. When Titus returned, Paul said this about the comfort he drew from Titus, who himself had been comforted by the Corinthians:
5 For, when we came into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears. 6 Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus; 7 And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more. (2 Cor. 7:5-7)
I’m not saying you should go around telling everyone all about your troubles, but there are times when we need to find a person of faith who has been victorious and seek out their counsel and encouragement. Above all, to walk victoriously in difficult times, we need to walk by faith, looking to what God has done for us in Christ, both in this life and the next, and speak words of victory!
What God has already done for us is far greater than any tribulation we might experience in this world. In 2 Corinthians 4:13-18, Paul wrote:
We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak; Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.
For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
I hope this word of encouragement is a blessing to you today!
