We are Blessed to Suffer

…I am filled with comfort; I am overflowing with joy in all our affliction. 2 Cor 7:4b

We are blessed by God. Unfortunately, I forget how blessed I am when I take my eyes off Jesus. Sadly, that happens more than I’d like to admit. But then if we are honest with ourselves it is something we all struggle with from time to time.

We forget that it is by God, through Jesus, that we are blessed. We forget it is according to His great mercies that we have the privilege of His blessings.

We, as children of God, have been given a LIVING HOPE through the resurrection of Christ. Living hope, a hope that can face any circumstance this life has to offer. A hope that keeps my eyes on the eternal blessings to come even in the midst of this life’s suffering.

We have been blessed with EVERY spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. Before the foundations of the world were ever formed He, God, CHOSE us to be holy and blameless.

He chose me, (and you)

that I might have every spiritual blessing.

that I might share in the sufferings of Christ.

that I might comfort others in their sufferings.

We suffer affliction because Jesus suffered. BUT the God of ALL comfort will comfort us in OUR affliction. We are comforted because Jesus is comforted by His Father. We have access to that same comfort!

As we walk through affliction it is through God that we gain comfort, perseverance and encouragement so that we will bring glory to His name while comforting and encouraging others to continue on in the walk toward Jesus. This IS what we are called to do.

If Christ willingly suffered for OUR sake, if He willingly gave His life, then how can we not willingly give ours for the sake of others?

Can you find comfort in knowing that your suffering might be used to bring another comfort? Or What if your life experiences, your sufferings could lead them to know Jesus?

Praise be to God if our afflictions are used for the comfort and salvation of others!

Christ patiently endured suffering and we are called to follow his example, this is pleasing to the Lord. He endured suffering by entrusting Himself to God, who judges righteously.

This is our comfort: Jesus bore our sin in His body on the cross so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. It’s by His wounds, His afflictions, and sufferings we have been healed. Because of what He did on the cross for us we can be comforted by Him and no longer wander away as lost sheep. We have a Shepherd who guards over us, protects us and comforts us in every way.

Since we have been comforted by His great comfort in the midst of our affliction we can comfort others as they suffer.

We are blessed to suffer for the sake of Christ…for the sake of others.

(see 2 Cor 1:3-7; 1 Pe 1:3, 2:20-25; Eph 1:3-4; Rom 15:5 )