II Corinthians 1:3-7 - " 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 5 For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. 6 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. 7 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.
Christians are not exempt from trouble but God will comfort us in our troubles. He will bring us through the trouble. In this way when others go through the same kind of troubles we are able to comfort them and be a strength to them. Also, suffering produces in us endurance and strengthens those who are going through suffering as they see our patient endurance in suffering.
II Corinthians 1:8-11 - "We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. 9 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. 10 He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, 11 as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many."
When trials come he will deliver us. This will give us faith to believe that He will deliver us from other trials that may come our way. Also, when we are in trouble, it gives others opportunity to pray for our us and practice love and compassion. When God answers the prayers lifted up on our behalf, it strengthens the faith of those who prayed for. us.
God will sometimes put us under a trial that is beyond our ability to withstand so that we might rely on him totally. As we rely on Him we will endure and overcome. God has given us many promises and we can count on these promises.
There is nothing pleasant about a trial. Yet, trials produce spiritual growth in us and others.
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