Scripture
3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 5For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. 6If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. 7And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort. 2 Corinthians 1:3-7
Observation
The Apostle Paul opens his letter to the Church in Corinth right where the Church of today needs it- a strong concentration on the comfort of our God in times of affliction, suffering, and trial. Paul uses the word “comfort” nine times in the first seven verses. It’s the same Greek word Jesus used to describe the comfort of the Holy Spirit that would come to the distraught disciples when Jesus ascended to His throne in Heaven. (Jn. 14:16, 16:7). In fact, this passage is a powerful display of the community of the Trinity- One God, Three Persons- moving in the community of believers and walking them through the most difficult of circumstances. The Greek word used for “comfort” means “to call to one’s side”. What a powerful picture. Let that sink in for a moment. The Compassionate Father, the Resurrected Christ, the Powerful Holy Spirit calling us close to His side as we walk through this crisis. The translators chose the closest word in English to communicate this same idea by taking it from the Latin word “confortis” which means “brave together”. The Triune Community of God is going to share with us in our time of trial so we can share with others in theirs. It’s a powerful partnership of Divine proportions. When we share in Christ’s sufferings we also share in His glory. We cannot share what we haven’t first received. But, what we have received we must share with others. To be brave together is to first of all share together where we have been afraid and how God met us there. In fact, Paul tells the Church to do this and then practices what he’s preaching by sharing his near-death experience In Asia. He does not play the hero in this story. He does not paint himself as invincible. No, Paul is painfully honest when he writes that he and his companions when in a place utter despair, at a complete loss, they saw no way out, and death was certain. They felt that even God Himself may be sentencing them to death (vs 9). What vulnerability to share this point of desperation in His faith. We are often so quick to rush to the point of answered prayer that we don’t actually share of the despair that led us there. In order to be “brave together," we must not only partner in the power of prayer but also in the pain of our present situation. Its Paul’s honest description beforehand that makes the point of deliverance so powerful when he writes, “But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. 10He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, 11as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.” (2 Cor. 1:9-11)
Application
It’s April Fool’s Day and honestly, I’m not in the mood. Many would say this whole year has been a joke from the beginning. Many faith followers of Christ feel foolish when we think back to our declarations of victory and promise we spoke over 2020. “This is your year!” No thank you, can I return it? I still have the receipt. I’m joking. Kind of. Today’s reading feels like it was ripped off the pages of our headlines this week. It think it’s interesting that just as The Church is heading into Holy Week and grappling with the realities of our first digital Easter our President is asking us to prepare for the most painful two weeks our country has had to endure, “Our strength will be tested, our endurance will be tried.” If there’s ever been a time to remember we are an Easter people living in a Good Friday reality it’s now. If there’s ever been a time to remember that are called to be brave together in the face of such painful realities it’s now. This requires that we partner in the pain and partner in the prayer. We cannot get through this by simply spouting spiritual platitudes. We must have a safe place where we can share, as Paul did, how we are “actually” doing and not how we want people to perceive we are doing. Isolation does not mean insulation. Isolation is required to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Insulation from those around us in the community of faith will actually strengthen the spread of fear and despair. My Zoom meetings with my small groups, pastors, friends, and family have truly been a lifeline for me. As a spiritual leader, I feel foolish admitting my anxiety and concern about the future, but I’m going to follow the Apostle Paul’s example and admit I can’t do this alone. I’m going to run to the side of my Savior and find comfort in His Resurrection reality that just on the other side of all this death is new life. I’m going to partner with my fellow believers and be transparent about the weight I feel so we can bear up this weight together. Then, after we’ve shared in the pain, we can share in the power as a people of promise. We will be able to declare the God who delivered us then is the God who will deliver us again. He led us to this and He will lead us through this. We can only be brave together when we come together in honesty and humility while walking through this tragedy.
Prayer
It’s on You that we set our hope. It’s in you that we stand firm. Help us to not insulate from You or from the brothers and sisters around us. As we share in the sufferings we will also share in the victories. It’s by the power of our testimony that the enemy is defeated so of course he’s going to want us to keep our stories to ourselves. We need You Father, Son, Holy Spirit. May the community of the Trinity keep the community of the Saints strong so we can bring hope to the hopeless community around us!
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