ENDURING SUFFERING (2 CORINTHIANS 1:3-11)

REFLECTION Enduring suffering is the theme for our reflection. To endure means to suffer something painful or difficult patiently. Suffering is the state of undergoing pain, distress, or hardship. Enduring suffering therefore means experiencing pain or hardship patiently. Paul recounts the suffering he and other co-workers of the Lord had to endure during the preaching…

REFLECTION

Enduring suffering is the theme for our reflection. To endure means to suffer something painful or difficult patiently. Suffering is the state of undergoing pain, distress, or hardship. Enduring suffering therefore means experiencing pain or hardship patiently. Paul recounts the suffering he and other co-workers of the Lord had to endure during the preaching of the Gospel. Paul encourages the Corinthian Christians that “If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer.” (2 Corinthians 1:6) He described some of these sufferings in 2 Corinthians 11:23-28: “stripes… prisons… beatings… stoning… shipwrecked… perils of waters… robbers… in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.”

Beloved in the Lord, it is reassuring to note that we are not alone when enduring suffering on account of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will not leave us alone to suffer therefore we must continually pray for the manifestation of His presence even as we endure suffering. Paul encourages us through his epistle to the Corinthians that “He (God) delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.” (2 Corinthians 1:10-11). Dear friend, prayer sustains and enables us to endure suffering to the end. Don’t lose hope, pray without ceasing for your restoration will surely come by the grace of God and according to His will.

PRAYER

Almighty God, we have no strength of our own to endure suffering on account of our calling, strengthen us through the power of the Holy Spirit to endure suffering to the glory of your name. Amen.