Rock Garden, Darjeeling Photo by JoyDeep
Good morning, beloved,
I’ve never listened to Rick Warren preach. I’ve read the Purpose Driven Life. When we were going to Willow Creek, Bill Hybels told a story about visiting Saddleback Church. Mr. Warren is a hugger. Gives hugs to everyone. Bill Hybels is not. AT ALL. My path has really never intersected with Mr. Warren. Until the news reports began to circulate that his son, his youngest son, killed himself. Then I began tracking and praying for him, for his family. Unbelieving to me, on Facebook, posts began to circulate about Mr. Warren. Awful reports. He deserved this…His son is rotting in hell. I have to tell you, I was amazed. I was saddened, for hopefully, obvious reasons.
So where am I going with this? Well, I heard a message yesterday. The first message Mr. Warren gave since his son died. I know the Lord had me listen. He spoke of hope. His wife spoke of joy. Tears flowed the entire message. How do you cope with this kind of pain?
3 ·Praise be to [Blessed is/be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father who is full of ·mercy [compassion] and all ·comfort [encouragement]. 4 He ·comforts[encourages] us ·every time we have [L in all our] ·troubles [trials; tribulation], so when others have ·trouble [any trials/tribulation], we can ·comfort [encourage] them with the same ·comfort [encouragement] God gives us. 5 [L For just as] ·We share in the many sufferings of Christ [L Christ’s sufferings abound in us]. In the same way, ·much comfort comes to us [L our comfort abounds] through Christ. 6 If we have ·troubles [trials; tribulation], it is for your ·comfort [encouragement] and salvation, and if we ·have comfort [are encouraged], ·you also have comfort [or it is for your comfort/encouragement]. This helps you to accept patiently the same sufferings we have. 7 Our hope for you is ·strong [unshaken; firm], knowing that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in the ·comfort [encouragement] we receive.
8 Brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the ·trouble [trial; tribulation] we suffered in Asia [C a Roman province in present-day western Turkey]. We had great burdens there that were beyond our own strength, so that we even ·gave up hope of living [L despaired of life]. 9 Truly, in our own hearts we believed we ·would die [L had been sentenced to death]. But this happened so we would not trust in ourselves but in God, who raises people from the dead. 10 God ·saved [rescued; delivered] us from these great dangers of death, and he will continue to ·save [rescue; deliver] us. We have put our hope in him, and he will ·save [rescue; deliver] us again. 11 ·And you can [or …as you] help us with your prayers. Then many people will give thanks for us—·that God blessed [for the gift/favor given to] us because of their many prayers.
Friends, I would urge you to listen to this message. I drew such comfort from their story.
Paul says in verse 4: He ·comforts[encourages] us ·every time we have [L in all our] ·troubles [trials; tribulation], so when others have ·trouble [any trials/tribulation], we can ·comfort [encourage] them with the same ·comfort [encouragement] God gives us.
He is our comfort. He is our encouragement. Every trial, every trouble brings the Lord closer to us and then if we allow Him, He can use us to comfort others. Rick Warren said, the things you want to keep hidden about your past, your pain are the exact things that can be a comfort and encouragement to others. In a way, if you think about it clearly, wouldn’t it be amazing that the pain you have endured could be used to bless others? That it could have a purpose to bless?
Mist at Darjeeling Rock Garden Photo by JoyDeep
This is a profound passage for us. This week has been a strange mix of digging deeper into the messages of the Prosperity Gospel and then hearing this message. I think it is uncomfortable to remember this passage. To study this is to realize that God does use pain. He does use suffering. Being rich, without pain, yeah, that isn’t God’s goal in our life.
7 Our hope for you is ·strong [unshaken; firm], knowing that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in the ·comfort [encouragement] we receive.
Share in their suffering. What can come from suffering? Comfort. Encouragement. From where? Our Lord!
9 Truly, in our own hearts we believed we ·would die [L had been sentenced to death]. But this happened so we would not trust in ourselves but in God, who raises people from the dead.
Trust in ourselves? We don’t align ourselves in the center of His will. Rather we fly solo in those thoughts…God meant that we would trust in God alone and that the power He commands raises people from the dead.
10 God ·saved [rescued; delivered] us from these great dangers of death, and he will continue to ·save [rescue; deliver] us. We have put our hope in him, and he will ·save [rescue; deliver] us again.
So wherever this post finds you. May I encourage you to put your hope in Him? Post those encouraging verses around your house. Repeat truth over and over and over to yourself. He will save, he will rescue, he will deliver.
Here are some to get you started! Print ’em out!
“When you go through deep waters, I will be with you! When you pass through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned up; it will NOT consume you!” Isaiah 43:2
“I will never leave you and I will NEVER abandon you.” Hebrews 13:5
“Can a mother forget the baby at her breast or the child she has born? Even if that were possible, I will never forget you! Look, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands!” Isaiah 49:15
“BUT WE KNOW that in all things God works for the GOOD of those
who love him, and have been called according to his purpose.”
Romans 8:28
“We often suffer, but we’re never crushed. Even when we don’t know what to do, we never give up. In times of trouble, God is with us, and when we are knocked down, we get up again… BECAUSE WE KNOW God raised the Lord back to life. And just as he raised Jesus, he will also raise us back to life, and will bring us into his presence together.”
2 Corinthians 4:8-9, 14
“Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness but they will be raised in strength!” 1 Corinthians 15:43
“So we don’t focus on the troubles we see right now; instead we look
forward to what we don’t see yet. For the troubles we see now are
temporary, but the joys to come will last forever.” 2 Corinthians 4:18
“Then God will wipe every tear from their eyes. And there will be no
more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things
will pass away.” Revelation 21:4
“We can have JOY even in our troubles BECAUSE WE KNOW that these troubles produce endurance. And endurance produces character, and character produces hope. And this hope will not disappoint us, because God has poured his love to fill our hearts.” Romans 5:3-5
My thankfuls:
272. Thankful for the message
273. Thankful for giggles
274. Thankful for a laugh filled night
Pray on. Pray on.
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- The Joys Of Suffering (Part 1) (isaiah556.wordpress.com)
- August 10, 2013 – You Are God’s Masterpiece – Daily Hope (grace2udaily.wordpress.com)
- Encouragement (pebblesandblessings.wordpress.com)
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