Terry Storch

Writing about life, leadership, faith, and anything else I find interesting.

Why Suffering and Hardship?

 

Ministry - 2 Corinthians 1

2 Corinthians is a deep and personal letter from Paul to the church in Corinth, a church that Paul started many years ago. Paul's first letter was a letter of correction and discipline because the church had drifted and lost its way. For what we read, it seems as if the letter was received well...but sometimes with discipline, there can come a bit of revolt or reaction. In 2 Corinthians, we learn there are some self-established leaders in the church now that are questions Paul's authority, and this second letter is addressing that, and Paul was defending his authority and his ministry. 

Why is this critical and important? Well, that's clear for me, I am a minister and pastor in a local church...but what if you are not a pastor? Well, the Biblical definition of “minister” is simply anyone who is a follower of Christ. So, if you are a Christian, you are a minister, God’s fellow worker. Therefore, that is you, and that is me. This book will be powerful to walk through and has so much to offer, here go. 

Right out of the gate, starting in verse 3 and continuing through 11, we see this powerful trio: Comfort, Hardship, Reliance. Comfort, Hardship, Reliance. 

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,” - ‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭1:3‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Praise God, the one who is the Father of compassion and all comfort. We see and are guided to where all our comfort and compassion comes from. God is the author! But watch this:

“who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we receive from God.” - ‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭1:4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Paul turns this on its head a bit and delivers the pay it forward message. God is the author of comfort, and He provides it to us, and He also then desires and requires us to be the messenger of comfort to others. If we rewind and think about all we read in 1 Corinthians, and even Romans the two previous books Paul authored, we see this theme that every gift we receive is to be used for others, not ourselves. So, even as we are comforted, this is to be used for others. 

“For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.” - ‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭1:5-7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Paul here connects sufferings and comfort. The cycle of life, hardship, and sufferings is what is promised here on earth, and in ministry (following Jesus), there is nothing safe and comfortable about walking with God. We share in Christ sufferings, but we also are comforted by Christ. Get this; if we are distressed, it is for your comfort. Whoa, don’t miss that. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort! This comfort we read will produce patient endurance. Wow, so good. 

Now, this is the key and critical close to the thought; remember Comfort, Hardship, Reliance. 

In this life, we will suffer; we will walk through hardship! Christ will comfort, and use us as comforters as well, but why? Why this side of heaven do we have pain, suffering and challenges...have you ever asked that question or wondered? I have and deal with this a lot. 

“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.” - ‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭1:9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The sentence of death! How does that compare to what you are walking through and asking why? Our suffering and challenges can be rough, but a sentence of death? That is what Paul felt and experienced, and we can feel that way sometimes as well. We walk through sufferings and challenges so that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. 

Comfort, Hardship, Reliance. I am walking away from today's reading with a fresh and renewed focus on my reliance not being self-reliant, but dependence on Christ. Lord, remind us when we are walking thought the suffering and hardship that you are our great comforter, and you are where our help, peace, and reliance comes from. Also, Lord, remind us that we are also a gift of comfort to others, use us to be a comfort blessing to those around us who need to be comforted. 

other writing
John 20 - The Gospel

John 20 - The Gospel

The Gospel, the Good News! Jesus, Son of God, was born of Mary, lived as the Son of Man, died, and rose to life to rescue the world and bring about a new life. The central message of the gospel. Jesus, the centerpiece! John 19 & 20 cover the brutal death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.

In this scene, I can not imagine how the disciples felt. John describes them as overjoyed...but those words just fall short of what I can imagine this moment was like.

John 19 - The Magnitude of the Cross

John 19 - The Magnitude of the Cross

The day of Jesus' crucifixion fulfilled 28 Old Testament prophecies. Scripture was fulfilled! Beyond that, trying to wrap my mind around what happened this day, on the cross, and fully grabbing the magnitude of the cross is mind-boggling.

Sure, we can dumb this down or simplify it to a place where I just don’t believe it is anywhere near accurate. We can get into penal substitution and argue over was God full of love or was God full of wrath and hate that he killed his son. To me, John 3:16 is pretty clear on the love part.

John 18 - Jesus levels an army

John 18 - Jesus levels an army

In John 18, we come to the great betrayal. Judas came with the soldiers, officials, and chief priest and Pharisees. We know the scene. But this morning, I saw something I don’t remember reading and surly don’t remember learning about.

“So Judas came to the garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons. Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?” “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.” - ‭‭John‬ ‭18:3-6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

John 17 - The Lords Prayer

John 17 - The Lords Prayer

John 17 is Jesus looking heavenward and praying to God the Father. So much beauty and mystery in this prayer. One thing that jumps out to me is that Jesus, fully God, and fully man prayed. Jesus is God fully. Why did he need to pray, He was One with the Father, He was God...and yet he prayed. This is so powerful;

“And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.” - ‭‭John‬ ‭17:5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

John 16 - What does it take to believe?

John 16 - What does it take to believe?

By the end of John 16, Jesus had done countless miracles, preached some amazing sermons, transformed so many lives, and developed a close and personal relationship with his disciples. So, when reading these verses, I am just utterly confused on so many levels.

“I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.” Then Jesus’ disciples said, “Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech. Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God.” “Do you now believe?” Jesus replied.” - ‭‭John‬ ‭16:28-31‬ ‭NIV‬‬

John 16 - Undervaluing God in Spirit

John 16 - Undervaluing God in Spirit

Jesus’ time on earth is quickly coming to a close, and he finishes up his last sermon or teaching to his disciples as they walk to Gethsemane. This final teaching was a heavy one that no doubt left his disciples with a heavy heart. Jesus said it this way;

“...None of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ Rather, you are filled with grief because I have said these things.” - ‭‭John‬ ‭16:5-6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Jesus goes on to say;

John 15 - Constant Growth

John 15 - Constant Growth

We were built for growth, constant growth. From birth, all the way until our death, we were designed by God for constant growth. The problem is, we often can find ourselves stuck in a belief, a phase, or a part of life where we stop growing.

One of the most brilliant investors embodies this understanding. Charlie Munger, at 96 years old, is still learning and growing as a person. I love this quote:

“Knowing what you don’t know is more useful than being brilliant.”
- Charlie Munger

John 14 - The Gift of Peace

John 14 - The Gift of Peace

John 14 opens with Jesus, saying, Don’t let your hearts be troubled. And the chapter closed down with Jesus saying Don’t be troubled or afraid.

A message that needs to resonate with our spirit and our inner self. This was such a good reminder, reading through John 14 over and over. This passage lifted off the screen.

“But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart…

John 14 - Troubled Hearts

John 14 - Troubled Hearts

The world today seems so volatile and chaotic. Everywhere you look, whatever we read and see on TV just seems to be troubling. Last night, I noticed my lovely wife Tweeted this;

“I can’t be the only one who watches the news and is simply embarrassed right now, right? (Dear Jesus, we tap out. Come on back.)”

I find this first humorous, but then I also find it sad. It’s true, watching the news as a Christ-follower is pretty embarrassing. In John 14, we see Jesus…

John 13 - Unselfish Concern

John 13 - Unselfish Concern

Summarizing John, chapter 13, looks like this. The Lords Supper takes place. Jesus washes the disciple's feet. Jesus calls out Judas, and Satan enters him. Night comes, Judas leaves, and Jesus says he must go, and where I am going, you can not come. To cap it all off, Jesus also calls out Simon Peter and tells him that he will deny and completely disown Jesus three times. Whoa, a really full chapter, and historical day.

Nestled in the wrap up of the day is the parting message Jesus leaves his disciples, a message Jesus is sharing with us right now.

 
thoughtsTerry Storch