2 Corinthians 1 -- A Whole World of Hurt for Paul

Wow!  Too much good stuff in here to pick from!  It mentions how Paul said he'd gotten chewed out by a church because his plans had to be changed!  So he ended up writing this letter to comfort and encourage.

"He certainly couldn't sing about his circumstances, but he could sing about the God who is in control of all circumstances.  Praise is an important factor in achieving victory over discouragements and depression," my commentary said.

"Whatever the Father did for Jesus when He was ministering on earth, He is able to do for us today.  We are precious to the Father, and He will see to it that the pressures of life will not destroy us."

"He puts strength into our hearts so we can face our trials and triumph over them ... When you find yourself discouraged because of difficult circumstances, it is easy to look at yourself and your feelings, or to focus on the problems around you.  But the first step we must take is to look by faith to the Lord and realize all that God is to us."

"We must never think that trouble is an accident.  For the believer, everything is a divine appointment ... If our trails are the products of fate or chance then our only recourse is to give up ... If we have to control everything ourselves, then the situation is equally as hopeless.  But if God is in control. and we trust Him, then we can overcome circumstances with His help."

"God knew just how much Paul could take and He kept the situation in control ... When God puts His children into the furnace, He keeps His hand on the thermostat and His eye on the thermometer."

"God wants us to trust Him -- not our gifts or abilities or experiences or our spiritual reserves.  Just about the time we feel self-confident and able to meet the enemy, we fail miserably."

"Sometimes God delivers us from our trials and at other times He delivers us in our trials."

Here is one that really hit home:  "God sometimes calls a church family to experience special trials in order that he might bestow on them special abundant grace... When Christians misunderstand each other, the wounds can go very deep ... Misunderstandings among God's people are often very difficult to untangle, because one misunderstanding often leads to another ... Once we start to question the integrity of others or distrust their words, the door is opened to all kinds of problems."

"God has to work in us before He can work through us ... God always prepares us for what He is preparing for us, and a part of the preparation is suffering ... As the sufferings increase, so does the supply of God's grace ... God has simple grace for our every need, but He will not bestow it in advance."

Father, help me to see other believers as You see them.  Don't let me make false accusations or assumptions.

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford