Have you ever met someone who is going through something that you just experienced?
Well, I was re-reading the life journal from yesterday - because I lost my list :( - and a couple of things stood out to me. Both were reminders, but I think they're needed reminders for me today.
First, 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."
Sometimes I forget that my experiences aren't for me. I mean, I know I need to learn from the things that I do and experience. But I'm understanding that that's not the whole purpose behind why I have life experiences. Of course, the first reason is to glorify the Father. Another one, though, is clearly described in this verse - I'm to comfort and encourage the people around me with the same comfort Christ gives me. We all have common experiences, right? Everybody faces joy and sorrow in various forms, and the amazing thing about the Lord is that He gives us the gift of comfort. The thing about gifts, though, is that we're supposed to give them away. Don't hold on to the comfort you receive. Share it gladly with the people around you who need it most.
Second, 2 Corinthians 1:9, "Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves, but on God who raises the dead."
Need I say more? God's calling me and you to trust Him. Completely. Entirely. Even unto death. It amazes me how fully Paul trusts God. Here I sit thinking about how hard it is for me to let go of things and truly trust the Father, and Paul responds with, "It's no big deal! Even if I die, God raises dead people to life..." To some that could seem arrogant, and maybe he was, but is he wrong? Not at all. Paul is completely correct to be that confident in the Lord.
I suppose the question is, am I?
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