Daily Walk Through the New Testament
December 6
Read 2 Corinthians 1:1-17

Joseph Parker, a famous British pastor, once offered good advice to other preachers: “Preach to the suffering, and you will never lack a congregation. There is a broken heart in every pew.” That statement was true when he said it, and it is true today. People hurt. Paul described God as the “God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation” (1:3-4). We have a compassionate, loving, Heavenly Father. The word comfort occurs 5 times in vs. 3-4 & comes from the same word Jesus used to describe the Holy Spirit! The word literally means “one who is called along beside.” The God of the universe Himself helps us shoulder life’s hurts. He stands near as one called along beside us. Isn’t that incredible?
We will all need comfort at times in our lives — “tribulation” and “trouble” are expected in life (1:4). Those 2 words, while translated differently in the English text, are merely a repetition of the same Greek word, meaning, “external pressures.” Paul experienced those external pressures when he was “burdened beyond measure, above strength” and “despaired even of life” (vs.8). It was in the midst of his troubles that he was reminded to “trust” in God, “who raises the dead” (vs. 9)!
What external pressures are you experiencing right now? Perhaps you’re dealing with difficulties that seem beyond your capacity to endure another moment. You are not alone in your pain. God is near — right along-side you, in fact. He is comforting you. Trust Him to deliver you (1:10). He will do it!