For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. 2 Corinthians 1:5 KJV
We all know what it means to fill any container to the point of overflowing.
Something distracted us and before we knew it, it had begun to spill over the edge.
We have a big mess to clean up.
One in which whatever we were pouring is no longer good and of no use to us.
As Christians we will have times when we are suffering through something.
Things happen in our lives; we keep trying to figure out how to handle them on our own.
So much so, till they reach a point of overflowing.
It feels like there is no way to get it to stop.
We have no idea how to clean up the mess we made.
That is where our faith in the Lord teaches us how to handle the things life brings our way His way.
How the difference in this overflow is the fact that as Christians, comfort comes out of it.
This is what the Lord has for our lives.
He knows that we will have troubles and need to know how to handle things.
Our sufferings make it possible to show others how, with Him, they can make it through their troubles too.
What the Lord tells us in 2 Corinthians 1:5 NIV says it all.
“As the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.”
The Lord went through a lot to bring us the salvation that God desired for us.
“Abound” means “to exist in abundance, to exceed a certain measure, to remain.”
We find the same word being expressed when we read about the 12 baskets of food that remained in John 6:12-13.
There had been a concern about not having enough to feed the “great company.”
The disciples were looking at what they had and didn’t have.
Forgetting who they in the company of.
How despite all the worrying, in the end, Jesus fed the thousands of people with 2 fish and 5 loaves of bread.
Despite all the worrying and fears, in the end the overflow that was left was a blessing.
In any situation we are to remain steadfast in the Word and put our trust in the Lord.
In our times of overflow, when suffering is being poured into our lives, He speaks peace to us.
He can turn any bad situation into something that is beneficial to our lives in the end.
One of the greatest comforts we can get.
Always remember, when troubles flow our way, look to God for His overflowing comfort.
The comfort we find is a testimony to be shared with others.
It shows we put our trust in Him and willingly serve Him.
“Abounding” is our goal.
As His disciples, we can have it.
It is one of the many blessings He provides.
A WORD OF PRAYER
Father, we know that there will be a time we experience suffering. What we are going through is just one of the ways we learn how in You our comfort abounds. The overflowing of Your comfort makes it possible for us to pass it on to others. Abounding in You is the best thing we can do. Thank You for being the example of the type of comforter we all need to be for each other.
In Jesus Name We Pray, Amen