Suffering & Deliverance

"We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. 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. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many."  2 Corinthians 1:8-11

My God is my Comforter. He comforts me so that I can be a comfort to others. He came to comfort because He knew there would be discomfort in our lives. His Word tells us that His sufferings will overflow into our lives for the purpose of producing patient endurance. These sufferings will include hardships that come in all manner of degrees and descriptions. Sometimes the pressure will be great and seem beyond our human ability to endure. It can leave us feeling desperate or even under a sentence of death. So why does God allow such suffering? His Word says it is so that "we might not rely on ourselves", but on Him, for He alone has the power to raise up the dead. 


So what are we to do? We are to set our hope on Christ, who no doubt has delivered us before, and can do it again in response to our prayers and the prayers of others on our behalf. And when the answer does come, He asks us to give Him thanks. Thanks for the favor He granted us as a result of our petitions.


Thank You Lord that my prayers and the prayers of others for me are not in vain. You do hear our pleas and You will answer according to Your best for me. My hope is in You! In Jesus Name I Pray, Amen.