Relying on God

Surgery. Imminent weddings. Big life changes. End-of-life waiting. These are a few situations I have had the opportunity to pray for this past week. These situations can feel overwhelming. They are beyond one’s own capacity to handle, but will we try to rely on our own strength? Will we rely on others or things (i.e. food, alcohol, entertainment, etc.) to get us through? Or will we rely on Almighty God?

The apostle Paul knew what it was like to be overwhelmed, utterly burdened beyond his own strength, yet he knew where to set his hope. He knew on Whom to rely.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. 6 If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. 7 Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.

8 For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. 9 Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. 10 He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. 11 You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many. [1]

2 Corinthians 1:3-11

Today I want to focus on verses 8-11, but I also wanted to give you the fuller context. Verses 3-4 are probably familiar to you. We often pray these verses particularly when someone is grieving. Paul wrote these words to “those who are in anyaffliction” (emphasis added). We know Paul suffered in many ways (2 Corinthians 11:23-28). Paul connects his affliction to sharing the Gospel (vs 6) and sharing in Christ’s sufferings (vs 5). At the same time, Paul states not only does he share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, he also, in Christ, shares abundantly in comfort.

We should take note that Paul’s comfort came from Jesus not from a change in circumstances. Too often, we look for our comfort, contentment, and happiness in different circumstances – the old saying, “The grass is greener on the other side.” In Paul’s letter to the Philippians, he asserts: “Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me”[2] (Philippians 4:11-13). Paul didn’t rely on a different set of circumstances. He relied on God.

Paul continues to encourage: “If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer” (vs 6). First, “same sufferings” does not mean those in the Corinthian church were enduring the exact sufferings that Paul did or was. The emphasis is on God’s purpose in the suffering not on the specifics of the suffering. God’s purpose is patient endurance (which we previously studied in James 5:7-11).

In verse 8, Paul points to the affliction he and his companions experienced in Asia. We don’t know for certain what Paul was referring to although there are possibilities (1 Corinthians 15:32; 2 Corinthians 11:24; Acts 19:23-41; 20:19; 1 Corinthians 16:9; 2 Corinthians 12:7-10). Whatever the affliction was, Paul declared they were utterly burdened beyond their strength that they despaired of life itself. They were completely overwhelmed. The affliction was beyond their ability to endure in their own strength. They realized the affliction could even lead to death.[3]

But look how Paul viewed their affliction: “But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead” (vs 9). No self-reliance. No pride. Total reliance on God. Paul told the Corinthians later: “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).

Not only did Paul rely completely on God but on “God who raises the dead.” Almighty God. Omnipotent God. Faithful God who raised Jesus from the dead and promised to raise those in Christ from the dead. The verb tense of raise “is atemporal, describing a permanent attribute of God (Harris 157).”[4] That God will raise us is rooted in who God is.

Paul understood God had delivered in the past. He had confidence God would deliver in the future (whether in this life or eternally), so God could deliver in the present. Knowing who God is and how God acts, Paul could state: “On him we have set our hope.” Paul’s hope was in almighty, faithful, God who delivers.

I am reminded of the psalmists’ words: “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil with me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God” (Psalm 42:11).

The words of the psalm connect to Paul’s next sentence: “You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many” (vs 11). Paul values prayer. He doesn’t think of himself as above needing the prayers of others, and he isn’t afraid to ask for prayer from others. He grasps the role prayer plays in his ministry. Paul also sees another purpose in the prayers of others on his behalf – “so that many will give thanks on our behalf.” Paul doesn’t seek his own glory. He continually seeks God’s glory.

We began this with comfort for those who are in any affliction. Your suffering, your affliction is probably not the same as Paul’s. It may not be the direct result of sharing the Gospel, but Paul’s words still encourage, convict, and exhort. The God of all comfort comforts us in all our affliction, so we may be able to comfort others. Our God not only comforts, but He is omnipotent and faithful. When suffering, we should not rely on ourselves, others, things, or a different set of circumstances. We rely on God. We set our hope on God. We ask others to pray with and for us, so that God may be glorified.

Reflection

1.        How have you experienced God’s comfort in a time of suffering? How have you been able to comfort someone else who is suffering as a result of the comfort you have received?

2.        Do you look for comfort in a different set of circumstances or in Jesus? Give an example.

3.        In affliction, do you tend to rely on yourself, others, things or on God? Explain. What have been the results? How does focusing on who God is and what God does change what or who you rely on?

4.        In times of blessing, we can be just as tempted to rely on self, others, or things instead of God. How have you done this? Be specific.

5.        When you ask someone for prayer or someone asks you for prayer, do you follow-up with how God has answered so you can give thanks? What blessings can you give thanks for today? Who do you need to follow-up with?

[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 2 Co 1:3–11.

[2] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Php 4:11–13.

[3] This was not death by an outside source like the government, but a realization within that they might not survive.

[4] Colin G. Kruse, Andreas J. Köstenberger, and Robert W. Yarbrough, 2 Corinthians (Nashville, TN: B&H Academic, 2020), 20.