WHEN TROUBLES OVERWHELM, CHRISTIANS TAKE REFUGE IN THE COMFORT OF GOD
Perhaps you’ve heard it said, or you yourself have said, “I’m at my wits’ end”! In other words: “I’m so exhausted trying to figure out how to deal with problems and difficult situations that I don’t know which way to turn (what to do next)”.
While doing ancestral research at the State Archives on the campus of the University of South Carolina, I had gone about as far as my feeble brain would take me when I overheard a conversation by two gentlemen standing nearby – and one of them sounded like he knew what he was talking about.
Going up to the expert, I said in exasperation, “Is there anything you can do to help me? After searching all morning, I’m at the end of my rope”! To which the gentleman replied, “That’s exactly where I found some of my ancestors.” Thus began a professional relationship and friendship that lasted a long time.
Some folks who find themselves “at the end of their rope” are simply tired of this or that . . . would rather take a beating than to go through the process all over again – whether it be medical procedures, therapy sessions or whatever. A favorite book title says it best: “Tired of Being Tired”.
So exhausted by suffering . . . sorrows . . . stress . . . bad news . . . pain . . . uncertainties . . . worrying about this or that, or what might be or might not be! Feeling much like Mark Twain when he remarked, “I’m an old man and have known many problems in my life, most of which never happened!” What’s the use of worrying?
“Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen” is the familiar title of a spiritual sung in the old days, but when we finish reading one of today’s scripture passages – and if we recall all the stuff that Paul endured throughout his entire ministry - we will most likely conclude that really and truly nobody had ever known the troubles Paul had seen by the time he told about coming to “the end of his rope” – 2 Corinthians 1:8-11 . . . (Phillips 8-9):
“We want you, brothers and sisters, to know about the troubles we had to go through in Asia. At that time we were completely overwhelmed – under great pressure, beyond our ability to endure - the burden was more than we could bear. In fact we thought that we had received the death sentence. Yet, we now believe that we had this experience of coming to the end of our rope so that we might learn to trust, not in ourselves, but in the God who can raise the dead!”
The extent of the pressure Paul was under is accentuated by his use of the word beyond – beyond our ability to bear and beyond our capacity to deal with it. “It was so bad we didn’t think we were going to make it” (The Message). “The burdens on us were so great, so heavy, that we gave up all hope of living”.
Quote from a 17th Century English Presbyterian Minister John Flavell:
“Man’s extremity is God’s opportunity”! Based on this quote, many sermons have been preached and books written.
Allow me to tweak that quote a bit to make a point that we need to grasp: My extremity (having exhausted my capacities to understand and my abilities to get things done, consequently finding myself at the end of my rope) is my opportunity to wholly rely on the Lord God my Maker, Father and Redeemer!
Which, however, does not excuse me from doing my part, but does put the pressure and the power where they belong – in the mind and in hands of Almighty God! As Mr. Beasley, my neighbor, called to me many mornings from across the street: “Remember, Charles, with God on your side, how can you lose?” Together, with God on our side, we shall overcome!
Victory over suffering, sin and death is (will be) ours because of (3 reasons): Who God is to you . . . What God does through you . . . What God does for you! Thanks be to God who gives us the victory!
As hard as life had been on him, Paul could not sing his own praises but oh how he sang the praises of God in whom he put his trust and in whose hands he placed his circumstances – 2 Corinthians 1:3-4a . . .
Praise is such an important factor in achieving victory over suffering! Paul praised God because He IS God . . . the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ . . . Father of mercies and God of all comfort! “As a father pities (has compassion on) his children, so the LORD pities (has compassion on) those who respect and revere Him” (Psalm 103:13).
God our Father responds to His children who hurt. He feels for us. He puts His feelings into action to provide comfort and encouragement. The word comfort comes from two Latin words meaning “with strength” while the Greek word means “to come alongside and help” – the same word used for Holy Spirit. In times of difficulty, God our Father is there to give us spiritual strength to go through the valleys of life.
The comfort of God is not a narcotic . . . not a sedative . . . not to be found in comfort foods . . . not palliative care like that which is administered to a dying person to keep him or her comfortable physically and psychologically, although my experience has been that those who care for, and minister to, terminally ill patients are indeed “servants of God”. However, all forms of comfort like those we have mentioned are temporary.
The comfort of God is a permanent spiritual state of being --- being connected to God as Father . . . Christ as Savior and Lord . . . the Holy Spirit as constant companion – being consoled by the presence of God plus a great cloud of witnesses . . . cheered by the forgiveness which we have received from our merciful Father who art in heaven hallowed be His Name, and the promise given to us by His Son and our Savior of an eternal Home in Heaven . . . contented as a cow chewing its cud – all because we know that our Redeemer lives and that, when all has been said and done, He is coming to receive us unto Himself that where He is, there we will be.
Praise God because of Who He is to you and me – the God of all comfort! Praise God because of what He does through you – 2 Corinthians 1:4b-7 . . .
We who have received comfort are called to be channels of God’s comfort.
Sometimes a word fitly spoken brings the comfort one needs – though not always. To what extent (did) do words fitly spoken comfort you? (0-1-2-3-4-5) Recall words or phrases by close friends or others that meant the most to you . . .
Sometimes an act of kindness fitly rendered comforts someone who is sick or bereaved - though not always. To what extent (did) do acts of kindness fitly rendered comfort you? (0-1-2-3-4-5) Recall kindnesses by friends that meant the most to you . . .
What is it about being a channel of comfort that makes one’s words or acts of kindness God-like - as if the comfort actually comes from God?
Could it be that God’s “presence” is what matters most, and that a word fitly spoken or written or an act of kindness fitly rendered enables a sufferer to focus on or reconnect with Who God is and what God has done and does for His children?!
Praise God because of what He does for you (2 Corinthians 1:10-11 Phillips): “It was God who delivered us from imminent death, and it is He who still delivers us. We place our hope in Him (We trust Him) to keep us safe in the future. So, please join in and help us by praying for us, so that the good that is done in answer to many prayers will mean eventually that many will thank God for our deliverance - and theirs.”
Deliverance – past, present, future – is assured to those who trust in God! One of the grandest themes thru the ages has been: God is able to deliver thee! Paul’s assurance of deliverance (due to the fact that “God raises the dead”) called for endurance.
There is a redeeming quality about endurance! Jesus said: “The worldly-minded will hate you because of me, but you that endure (stand firm) will be saved” (Mark 13:13).
Paul’s suffering for Jesus modeled to Christians that those who remain faithful to Christ can expect no bed of roses BUT, since our lives are so intertwined, if we hang in there together, and encourage one another, our hope in the fulfillment of God’s promises will be rewarded. Our endurance will influence others to come to know Him whom to know is life eternal.
After all: Salvation is the greatest comfort there is! To be saved is to rest assured! Therefore:
How we respond to affliction - especially that which besets us because we seek to live for Jesus a life that is true - serves as a model for others.
Some folks do suffer with Christ, as did Paul, because of Christian convictions. What did Paul say that all Christians can do to help those who suffer in any way? Pray!
Pray that sufferers will be blessed with abundance of strength that is theirs due to their connection to God through Christ. May our prayers on their behalf be effective in helping them fight the good fight on our behalf!
May we respond as did Paul whose terrifying ordeal had had a tremendous effect on him: It had driven him to God in prayer as never before! In our adversity, therefore, may our humility be like that of Abraham Lincoln who confessed: “I have often been driven to my knees in prayer because I had nowhere else to go.” Amen!
