Hope in the Midst of Hard Times

Something To Think About Hard Times and Hope:

The Apostle Paul was a remarkable man.  I think his natural abilities and educational achievements were somewhere off the chart, then, when we add in his God-giftedness, it’s easy to think that he was a superman.  Reading 2 Corinthians makes clear that he wasn’t.  He had invested a couple of years and a great deal of energy in the evangelizing and discipling those who responded to the Gospel in the wicked, important, highly intellectual city of Corinth.  It appeared that things were coming unraveled.  The folk in the Corinthian church had a serious case of “They don’t get it.”  They were enamored with a band of smooth—very smooth—talking false apostles.  They had indicated that they would participate in the fund-drive that Paul had organized for the church in Jerusalem, a church to which Gentile churches like the one in Corinth owed a great debt, but now I don’t think he was sure whether they would come through or not.  One commentator said that Paul “bared his heart and declared his steadfast love for the Corinthians even though some had been extremely critical and very fickle in their affection for him.”1 Now the Apostle was on the other side of the Aegean Sea in Turkey.  He had dispatched Titus to find out how the members of the Corinthian Church had responded to his painful letter.  He had agreed to meet Titus in Troas, but he didn’t show up.  The Apostle couldn’t stand it.  He got in a boat and went to find his emissary. Paul said he was “hard pressed on every side.”  He “had no rest.”  (2 Corinthians 4:8 & 7:5)  Words like affliction, sorrow, and weakness abound.  When you read the last three chapters of the book it is clear that he wasn’t sure that he had won the day.   Maybe it is odd, but I find all of this encouraging.  I gave up being super-anything a long time ago, but fear and uncertainty—I’m good at that.  As I read 2 Corinthians I found myself identifying with Paul.  If God could use him . . .  I think Paul would be pleased.  He opened his book with this reasoning: God “comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.” (2 Corinthians 1:4–5, NASB95)   I’m still being comforted and encouraged by the Apostle Paul’s affliction almost two millennia later. I need to: Know I can’t handle it. Rejoice in my weakness, because that is where God’s power is showcased (2 Corinthians 12:9-10) Be honest and open so God can use me. It’s STTA. 1 Hampton Keathley