2 Corinthians 1:3-11 Praise to the God of All Comfort

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ If 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 And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort. We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead He 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 as 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. Jesus said, "In this world there will be trouble, but take heart because I have overcome he world." He also said, "Apart from me, you can do nothing." Jesus also said, "Come unto me you who are weary and heavy laden. Take your yoke with me because my burden is easy and my load is light." The essence of these verses is that trouble will come and we need a refuge from trouble found in Christ himself. Our salvation is more than forgiveness of our sins, it is a shield in a trouble weary world. So cling to the one who defines life, Jesus Christ, who was raised from the dead so that you may find life. Daily Prayer: Lord, uphold us in our faith in you, knowing that you know our trouble and can do something about it. Let us not doubt you, but instead confess you so that trouble and evil forces may be extinguished. Amen.