Click here to go to the Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:1-11

A friend of mine phones out of the blue to invite me for lunch and I can see something’s wrong. Eventually he gets to the point: My wife wants to leave me! And I see my friend’s eyes starting to glisten.

I have no words, because what can you say?

Then I read these words of Paul’s, writing his second letter to the Corinthians: 3 All praise to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus the Messiah! Father of all mercy! God of all healing counsel! 4 He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, He brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us.

I know these are the words that my friend needs now. At this stage he is not experiencing God’s goodness raining over us. The hurt and the pain of the sediment in the pipe have become so much that the pipe can hardly let any living water through. What I should have said to him was: My friend, I know you don’t feel it now, but God is good to us. Even if your pipe is blocked, you have to know and try to believe that God is with you. Even if you have nothing to hold onto, hold onto the knowledge that God will never let you go. Even if you see no light, even if you don’t know how to get out of this, don’t be afraid, because God walks with you! He holds your hand, He even has a spade to help you clear the blockage in the pipe.

God is not one of those who stand on the side giving advice and making plans. O no, He is the one who walks with you, who struggles with you, who plans with you and does with you. Can I bring you a piece of your future to you NOW: One day in the future you will look back on your life and at all the blockages that have been cleared. Then you will look on in amazement. With clear eyes, without all the emotions clouding your sight, you will see the hand that has always been present in your life. You will see it could not have been you alone doing everything. You will see a third leg and arm. You will see that in one way or another you have come through the stormy river.

However, there is another turning point in the story of suffering. The turning point comes when you understand that the negative can be turned into a positive: 4… He brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us. God will not allow things to happen to us without us learning through it and coming out a better person on the other side. Much of the suffering is the result of our own wrong choices, but when we share the comfort we receive from God with others, and when we help them with their suffering, the negative changes into a positive. In the suffering en the dripping tears God equips us to do something for others. God shows us personally what other people’s suffering feels like. Then you understand and you can really help others with passion and insight.

I know my friend is hurting and alone. Fortunately, I know the big Comforter is sitting next to him with a handkerchief. I hope that God will lead him to the turning point where he will get up from the ashes and turn the negative into a positive. And that sometime in the future he will help someone, even if it is just one person, because he understands the pain that person is going through.

Reflection

What is bothering you?

What can God help you with?

Where can you go and help?

Prayer

Our Father, I need these words so much. Thank you that I can hear again that you will be with me through thick and thin, even though it doesn’t always feel like it. Thank you that I can look forward to the victory and thank you that one day I can also help others, en though it doesn’t feel like it now. Amen