"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort;
who comforts us in all of our affliction so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."
~ 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Most often our prayers are focused on avoiding affliction. Nobody enjoys affliction. Nobody is looking for pain and hardship in life.
"Lord, keep us safe. Lord, keep us well. Lord, protect... Lord, remove ... Lord, give favor ... Lord, help us ... Lord, bless" All of these are legitimate prayers from sincere hearts. But all seek to avoid even the slightest discomfort in life. And should discomfort or affliction come our way, we tend to default to "What have I done wrong? Why has God allowed this to happen to me?"
What if we're looking at affliction all wrong? Sure, it's no fun. Yeah, we'd rather avoid it. But it seems God has a reason for it.
The key to figuring out what these afflictions in our lives are all about are found in the words "so that". "... who comforts us in all of our affliction so that ..."
"So that" what? So that we can turn around and comfort someone else going through a similar plight. Not with our own words of wisdom or empathies. But with God's comfort. The same comfort that has seen us through. We become a conduit of God's all-sufficient grace to those most in need.
I've figured something out in life: Whatever you're going through, or whatever you've gone through - God has a purpose for it. And, most often, it's not about you at all.
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1 comment:
Very well said. Sometimes I ask “Why?”, and the answer is “God has a purpose!”. He wants me to keep on praying and be thankful for whatever is happening...like He says in
1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 - “pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.”
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