18 March 2021 - In the mist of trouble focus on God

2 Corinthians 1:8-11 (NLT) “We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. 9 In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead. 10 And he did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us. 11 And you are helping us by praying for us. Then many people will give thanks because God has graciously answered so many prayers for our safety.”

Paul, is in the midst of trials, but he is not focusing on his circumstances but focusing on God. He starts with 2 Corinthians 1:3 (NLT) “All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort.”

The expression “Father of compassion” means that God is the source or originator of compassion, echoes the sentiments of many Old Testaments writers in their statements about God.

Lamentations 3:22-23,32 (NLT) “The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. 23 Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. 32 Though he brings grief, he also shows compassion because of the greatness of his unfailing love.”

Micah 7:19 (NLT) “Once again you will have compassion on us. You will trample our sins under your feet and throw them into the depths of the ocean!”

Isaiah 66:13 (NLT) “I will comfort you there in Jerusalem as a mother comforts her child.”

Psalm 145:9 (NLT) “The Lord is good to everyone. He showers compassion on all his creation.”

The root of the Greek word for comfort means to come alongside and help. This reminds us that the comfort God supplies comes to us from an infinite source of strength. 2 Corinthians 12:8-10 (NIV) “Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

God’s power is the best displayed in our weaknesses.