The Burden Of Afflictionنموونە

God graciously provides comfort in the midst of our afflictions. 

The good news is that “affliction” is not the only, or even the final, word that Paul highlighted in his letter to the church at Corinth. With the afflictions, he had also received abundant “comfort” from God and other believers (see his repetition of the word “comfort” in 2 Corinthians 1:3-7). The word “comfort” is the same term used of the Holy Spirit as the “Comforter” (John 14:6), and it indicates someone who comes alongside another person to help or assist him or her in time of need. 

Paul was saying that since God is the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort, he never had to face these seasons of suffering alone. In fact, he experienced his suffering as co-suffering with Christ who had also walked this path of affliction, pain, and ultimately death on the cross. 

Like the writer of Hebrews, Paul knew that because we have Jesus as a great High Priest who offered up His prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to God (Hebrews 5:7), we can also draw near in prayer with confidence to the throne of grace so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need:

"Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16)."

Paul also knew that just as God used Christ’s suffering and death as His means of saving the world, Paul’s own sufferings and afflictions were being used for redemptive good (Romans 8:28).

Are you suffering in silence as you face seasons of affliction or are you voicing them to God in prayer? Are you pleading for God’s presence and comfort in the midst of your suffering?