“For All” – Day Eleven

09 Sep “For All” – Day Eleven

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:4-5 NLT – “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.”

Observation: These verses provide us with encouragement through our troubles. We can rely on God and the Holy Spirit to comfort us right in the middle of our suffering, but not only for our own good, but so that we may also do the same for others. We are not meant to do life alone… 

Application: Even in times of trials and heartache, God remains faithful to his promise that he will be there with us in the midst of our storm. Our suffering is real, and it hurts. We long for God to show us his infinite and unconditional love. But for us to receive this, God first had to teach us what love meant. Love is sometimes revealed through suffering—we see that when we look at Jesus and all he suffered on the cross for us. I see it when I look back at my mom’s life and the sacrifices she made.  

When I was about five and my sister was six, my parents divorced, leaving my mom a single mom of two. She worked as a State Police officer, and other overnight jobs to provide for us. My grandfather once told me a story of how when we would all go out to eat, my mom would order our food but then wait until my sister and I were finished eating, then she would eat our leftovers because she hadn’t ordered her own meal. I wasn’t old enough at the time to fully understand what was actually going on, but in recent years, my mom shared some things with me that really helped me to appreciate the sacrifices she made for my sister and me. Now that I am older, I also see how God saw our family through those financial struggles and hardships. He was our Comforter! And he wants to be yours too! 

So, if you have felt those comforting arms of Jesus surround you through your ups and downs (because we all experience them) what would it look like if you stopped and took a moment to think about tangible and meaningful ways that you may reach out to another who may need it? Maybe send a card? A text? Even a phone call! Serve on Code Red, maybe? For me, my life changed completely when I joined my first J-Group, a Freedom J-Group. There, I was able to let go of some of my “divorced family” issues and financial strongholds and give them all to God. And now, because of that J-Group, I have a very dear friend. She understood my story and was able to comfort me during those times (and still to this day). There, I also had friends coming alongside me that were able to see things that I wasn’t seeing, lift my spirits when I felt I had nothing left, and celebrate with me when I needed them to. They exemplified our Scripture verse by offering me comfort where they had been comforted. I am so thankful for them in my life and for all the ways God has been there for me throughout it all! He is faithful to his Word! 

It would certainly be amazing to live in a world in which suffering was gone. And we will, one day in heaven. But before we get there, Jesus himself warned us that here on earth we will experience temporary pain and suffering, but to take heart because he has overcome the world! (John 16:33) 

Prayer: Lord, I want to thank you for protecting my soul, mind, and spirit from the long-suffering that this world may cause. I pray you would guide me every day and that the Holy Spirit would comfort me in times of trouble. Help me to walk in the freedom, strength, and joy that only you can give. In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

Jillian Barker

Journey Students Area Coordinator 

Jillian started serving on our Journey Students team about three years ago. After saying “yes” to the Young Adult Residency and Journey Leadership Institute Evening Program, she felt God’s calling on her life to serve in a higher capacity on the Students team. This allowed her to invest in others and pour into students. 

Going Deeper:

• Take the next step and join a J-Group / Connect Weekend on September 18 & 19, 2021
• Check out this testimony from Josh Watson and Diane Perry
• Read the full chapter of Romans 8
• •