We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt 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. 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.** 2 Corinthians 1:8-11 (NIV)**
Our trials enable us to see clearly how much we need God, Amen? We are certainly not in control. Our help is to come from Him as the psalmist writes in Psalms 121:1-4 (NIV): “I lift up my eyes to the hills--where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip--he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.” Trials and tribulations teach us not to rely upon self (as what good is the arm of flesh?) but to rely upon the Lord Who is omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent - as well as loving toward all He has made. And He ever has His eye upon us for good and not evil – His grace being sufficient to meet our every need.
Paul tells us to set our hopes upon Him as His power is perfected in our weaknesses. He writes in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (NIV): “To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 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. 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.”
As a diamond is best displayed on a black background so too Christ’s power is best displayed against the backdrop of human weaknesses, trials, tribulations and sufferings. As Paul stated, when we are weak, then we are strong. Our resolve is to be like Jesus and He has given us the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit to walk as He walked. We never shine brighter than when we experience trials as Jesus did through His power and not as the world does in fretting and in murmuring. He will never allow anything that is not for our best – though often extraordinarily difficult. That is the promise for every believer. Jesus knows how great our suffering can be as He walked the same path. It is the way of the fallen, sinful world – for now. But it will not always be so. Every sorrow will result in future gain for the believer or God would not allow it. And as He delivers us, we praise Him which brings Him much glory.
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 have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 (NIV)