THE MISSING PEACE Unlock and Sustain Peace in Your Daily Lifeಮಾದರಿ

Day 5:

C-ORINTHIANS

USEFUL SUFFERING

“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ.”

2 Corinthians 1:3-5

This passage of scripture is where the rubber meets the road. At the risk of sounding hyperbolic, it may be the crux on which a majority of our peace hinges. Paul begins verse 3 with praise and adoration. He is careful to encourage us to be grateful for the suffering we endure so that we may comfort others during their time of need. He paints a remarkable picture of empathy as a centerpiece for serving others who are suffering. God, Paul continues, is the source of all comfort. In my opinion and for the sake of relevance, comfort and peace are interchangeable. It’s refreshing to remember that the more we suffer for Christ, the more comfort He lavishes upon us.

Certainly, peace is not wholly contingent upon our suffering. We can absolutely choose the necessary means by which we fully cultivate peace. As we discussed yesterday, our fear of the Lord and our willingness to yield to the leading of the Holy Spirit are the foundations for a peaceful existence. What does suffering mean to you? I believe sacrificial serving, giving, and loving could be forms of suffering. It can be uncomfortable to love the unlovable and forgive the detestable. I can suffer through the denial and resistance of my flesh by overriding the operating system within me that is susceptible to temptation. Different sacrifices yield different degrees of suffering. It can mean different things to different people. Regardless of severity, the Bible is clear that those who suffer in the name of obedience to Christ, will experience the peace and comfort of God.

Fortunately, or unfortunately, the blessing and the curse is that our mess becomes our message and our test becomes our testimony. Our sufferings, specifically overcoming them, are meant to be used for God’s glory as a witness for the Kingdom. You may wonder why this is relevant to living a life of peace. I’m glad you asked. When we serve, we are as close to Christ-like as we can get. Christ-likeness becomes the soil where peace flourishes; completely pure and authentic. A worthwhile coping mechanism often takes the form of seeking others and meeting needs. Conversely, inwardly consumed with our own misery or misfortune not only erodes peace but also entreats self-pity. That mindset is destructive and disruptive to a purpose-driven life.