Post by Cindy on May 10, 2015 10:31:39 GMT -5
Are you facing trouble today? If so, you’re in good company. I have trouble, and the Apostle Paul had trouble. Even Jesus had trouble.
Sometimes it seems like people give each other all kinds of advice when times are good. But this encouragement can feel empty in the midst of difficulty. Knowing this about us, God gives us encouragement and inspiration throughout His Word. Second Corinthians was written by a person who experienced more suffering and difficulties than we can ever imagine: Paul.
In the midst of persecution and rejection, Paul could have become discouraged and miserable. In fact, Jesus appeared to Paul in a vision when he arrived in a new city to encourage him. His message was that Paul should not be afraid, for he would not be attacked or harmed (Acts 18:9–10). That new city was Corinth—the city to which Paul then wrote his own words of encouragement.
When Paul wrote to the Corinthians, life was hard for him. Everywhere he went, he was persecuted, unwelcome, beaten, stoned, whipped, imprisoned, shipwrecked, left for dead, and more. Yet he refused to let anything that happened to him in this life avert his eyes from his reward in heaven. Despite his circumstances, he expresses hope and confidence in God’s provision in 2 Cor 4:16–17: “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”
These words, born out of persecution and hardship, became a means of encouraging fellow believers in their journey of faith. Paul turned his focus inward and upward—inward to where God was daily renewing him, and upward to where his sufferings for Christ’s sake were continually increasing his eternal reward. With these words, he exhorted the believers at Corinth to do the same.
Listening to the Right Voices
Even Jesus promised that there would be trouble in this life. But He gave us more encouragement: He has overcome the world (John 16:33). Though trouble may be inevitable, Jesus wouldn’t have told us to take heart if misery were also inevitable. We can choose whether to be miserable or cheerful.
What are the voices in your head saying to you? God’s voice is not the only one speaking to us, but He does speak to us. And when we listen to His voice, He helps us to stand firm in troubled times.
Can you hear His voice speaking to you through His Word today, putting your circumstances in perspective? What you face today cannot be compared to what you will one day receive in heaven. It is worth it to remain faithful, no matter how difficult the circumstances. Listen to the right voice and you’ll have strength to make the right choice.
These are the important questions to ask yourself during hard times: “Will I choose cheerfulness?” “Will I listen to the right voices?” “Will I choose the right attitude?” Answer these questions as Jesus and Paul did, then watch as God lifts the burden of your circumstances onto His shoulders and replaces it with the peace of His presence.
Faithlife Study Bible.
Sometimes it seems like people give each other all kinds of advice when times are good. But this encouragement can feel empty in the midst of difficulty. Knowing this about us, God gives us encouragement and inspiration throughout His Word. Second Corinthians was written by a person who experienced more suffering and difficulties than we can ever imagine: Paul.
In the midst of persecution and rejection, Paul could have become discouraged and miserable. In fact, Jesus appeared to Paul in a vision when he arrived in a new city to encourage him. His message was that Paul should not be afraid, for he would not be attacked or harmed (Acts 18:9–10). That new city was Corinth—the city to which Paul then wrote his own words of encouragement.
When Paul wrote to the Corinthians, life was hard for him. Everywhere he went, he was persecuted, unwelcome, beaten, stoned, whipped, imprisoned, shipwrecked, left for dead, and more. Yet he refused to let anything that happened to him in this life avert his eyes from his reward in heaven. Despite his circumstances, he expresses hope and confidence in God’s provision in 2 Cor 4:16–17: “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”
These words, born out of persecution and hardship, became a means of encouraging fellow believers in their journey of faith. Paul turned his focus inward and upward—inward to where God was daily renewing him, and upward to where his sufferings for Christ’s sake were continually increasing his eternal reward. With these words, he exhorted the believers at Corinth to do the same.
Listening to the Right Voices
Even Jesus promised that there would be trouble in this life. But He gave us more encouragement: He has overcome the world (John 16:33). Though trouble may be inevitable, Jesus wouldn’t have told us to take heart if misery were also inevitable. We can choose whether to be miserable or cheerful.
What are the voices in your head saying to you? God’s voice is not the only one speaking to us, but He does speak to us. And when we listen to His voice, He helps us to stand firm in troubled times.
Can you hear His voice speaking to you through His Word today, putting your circumstances in perspective? What you face today cannot be compared to what you will one day receive in heaven. It is worth it to remain faithful, no matter how difficult the circumstances. Listen to the right voice and you’ll have strength to make the right choice.
These are the important questions to ask yourself during hard times: “Will I choose cheerfulness?” “Will I listen to the right voices?” “Will I choose the right attitude?” Answer these questions as Jesus and Paul did, then watch as God lifts the burden of your circumstances onto His shoulders and replaces it with the peace of His presence.
Faithlife Study Bible.