◄ What Does 2 Corinthians 1:9 Mean? ►

Paul was a man who was equipped to comfort and encourage other Christians through the difficulties and dangers of life, because Paul was a man who understood the significance of suffering for the sake of Christ. Paul was also a man that received gracious comfort from the God of all comforts (Who comforts each one of us so that we may be used by Him to comfort other people, who may cross our life-path).

Paul was a man who was also subject to rejection, hostility, sufferings, afflictions, distresses, and opposition. Indeed, we read that his life was so problematic that: "He had the sentence of death within him." But Paul knew that no matter what life threw in his direction: "All things work together for good for those that love the Lord Jesus and are called according to His good purpose."

Paul was a man who was learning that he could not trust in his own ability and cleverness. He could not trust in his own wisdom and knowledge, and he reminded the Corinthian Christians that no matter who we are, no matter what strengths we possess, or where our influence reaches: "We cannot trust in ourselves."

God is the only one in Whom we can trust. He alone is all wisdom and knowledge. He alone knows the end from the beginning. He alone is the Author and Finisher of our faith, the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.

Let us entrust our lives and futures into the safe-keeping of our Heavenly Father Who is the God of all comforts for, like Paul, not only are we subject to rejection and hostility, sufferings and afflictions, distresses and opposition by a world at enmity with our Heavenly Father, but we have His eternal promise that He Who He raised Christ from the dead will deliver us from life's difficulties and dangers.

Let us trust not in ourselves, but in His unfailing love.

Heavenly Father, thank You that You are the God of all comforts, and that You are faithful to keep Your Word to all those that trust in You. May I cast all my cares upon You and trust in Your unfailing love, from this day forward and even forevermore. In Jesus' name I pray, AMEN.