II Corinthians 1:7 “And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.”
There are times when “the sufferings” in this life are so great that nothing around us nor anyone near us can console us. It is in these times of severe “sufferings” that the Children of God truly shine (Matthew 5:16) with the brilliance of our Lord’s Grace. It is in these times, when our “faith” is being tried (I Peter 1:7), that our “faith” is tested to show just how strong and enduring it is. Those who have no “faith” often resort to strange and ungodly behaviors when they are faced with overwhelming “sufferings”. But those who have God-given “faith” (Hebrews 12:2) can be heard, even in the very midst of their severe “sufferings” to cry, “I know that my redeemer liveth” (Job 19:25) and you can hear them sweetly sing “I love my Savior God; Because He first loved me” (Author Unknown); for, the Holy Spirit comes upon us and consoles us with His Holy Presence and points our troubled minds to our loving Master and we hear Him gently saying to us, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28). And, He remains with us until the storm of our “sufferings” is passed. Even when we are ravaged by death itself, the “Comforter” (John 16:7) comes upon us and pushes back the cloud of sufferings and consoles us with our Lord’s peace and joy. Many years ago, when I was young in the Ministry, a dear elder preacher friend of mine became weak with his illness and could not leave his bed, as I weekly visited with him he always wanted to hear about the Churches and our Brethren and the sermons that I’d heard. Then one day when I stopped by to see him, I started speaking to him of our Brethren; but, he put his feeble hand over on mind and said, “J.C., just talk to me about my Jesus.”. Then, I began to talk to him about our Lord’s great love for us and His great and sure promises to us. As I was speaking to him of our Lord, a peaceful smile came on his face and he rested; five days later the Lord took him to Heaven’s Paradise (Luke 23:43). Our Lord’s blessed “consolation” will surely console us in even our most severe trials and “sufferings”. So, lets together face this present tribulation, in much prayer, “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;” (Ephesians 5:19) and “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2) and “Casting all” our “care upon him; for he careth for” us (I Peter 5:7); for, He “will never leave” us, “nor forsake” us (Hebrews 13:5)!