Key Verse: 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 . . . (2 Cor. 1:3-4a)
Centuries ago St. Augustine wrote, “God had one son on earth without sin, but never one without suffering.” Several centuries before Augustine, Paul wrote, “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.” (2 Cor. 1:8-9) Paul has these words at the beginning of one of his most personal letters. In this letter he will bare his soul; he will bring up from the deep places in his heart the pains he has suffered, but also the truths he has absorbed in the difficulties of ministry. He will offer principles of life and ministry born in the fires of experience.
As the apostle describes his own ministry throughout this letter, we can extract from what he says some fundamental principles that will give support to anyone who is seeking to follow and serve the Lord today. It doesn’t matter whether you are “separated to the gospel” in full-time ministry, helping a neighbor, teaching a children’s class, discipling a friend, or doing any other kind of ministry, the apostle offers real help. And, unexpectedly, this is where Paul begins: Ministry can involve intense suffering. As Paul thinks back on his experience and that of his teammates, he writes of suffering “beyond our ability to endure,” suffering that feels like a sentence of death.
There is an assumption underlying what Paul says here: Everyone will endure suffering. We live in a hurting world. Paul in another place describes our present state using this language: “suffering . . . frustration . . . bondage to decay . . . pains of childbirth . . . groan inwardly . . . wait patiently . . . our weakness” (Rom. 8:18-27). That’s how he describes this life.
Paul, however, as a church-planting missionary, endures additional suffering; and this has caused him to know God as “the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort.” This is the God, he writes, “who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble,” and we can comfort others “with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” In his suffering for the gospel, Paul has come to know by experience a new dimension of God—the God who comforts.
If you participate in ministry, you can expect additional suffering. It may not be the kind of physical attacks Paul experienced. It may be the criticism of others, sometimes just a word someone blurts out that keeps you awake at night, sometimes a direct criticism that wounds your soul, or sometimes a rumor that someone spreads about you.
Surely Augustine is right, and God has no children who do not suffer. But beyond this, we can say that those who commit themselves to serve the Lord are inviting additional suffering. The enemy does not sit by and smile when we are attempting to serve the Lord. If the enemy attacks you in any of these ways, turn to “the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles.” Then you, like the apostle, will be able to “comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”
Prayer: Lord, I pray for that vast army of believers who are serving you across this world in whatever capacity. Many are hurting for a great variety of reasons. Be near to them and reveal yourself as “the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort.” I pray especially for ___________ as he serves you and for __________ as she faithfully ministers. In their time of need let them experience your presence and comfort.
Author: Lindsay Hislop was raised in southern Scotland and southern Ontario and now lives in the southern United States. He worked in the engineering field for 15 years (mostly in Canada) before pursuing an academic career. He has taught for over thirty years at Columbia International University. He also serves as an elder in his church, where he teaches and preaches regularly. He is married to a wonderful wife Pam and has two terrific children, Holly, who lives in Canada, and Doug, who lives in Columbia. His four grandchildren, Isaac, Madeline, Lindsay, and Dolan, are also pretty special. He likes doing carpentry and odd jobs around the house.
