“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.” – 2 Corinthians 1:9

Scripture reading: 2 Corinthians 1:3-11; 2 Corinthians 12:1-10

Providence includes the hard times in our lives. Consider how the apostle Paul faced tremendous suffering including riots, imprisonments, and ridicule – all part of God’s divine providence. In addition, he had poor eyesight, was small in stature, and had that “thorn in the flesh” that he writes about in 2 Corinthians 12. He writes how he had prayed – he uses the word “pleaded” – that God would take away the thorn.

But the Lord did not answer the prayer the way the apostle had hoped. Instead, God answered the prayer with something better. God gave Paul – and gives us – this promise: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). And the apostle Paul found great comfort in that answer.

It was through his suffering that the apostle learned to rely more completely on God (2 Corinthians 1:9). And the same is true in your life and mine. The Lord sends us hard providences at times because when we are at our weakest point, we realize most acutely how much we need the strength, comfort, and guidance of our gracious, omnipotent God.

Hard providence also reminds us of the great suffering Christ endured on our behalf, “For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too” (2 Corinthians 1:5). Our suffering reminds us of Christ’s great love for us, that He would leave the glory of heaven for a life of suffering on earth.

Suggestions for prayer

Thank God for the suffering of Christ on your behalf; thank Him that His grace is sufficient for every thorn in your life and that His strength is made perfect in your weakness.

Pastor Ted Gray is an emeritus minister of First United Reformed Church in Oak Lawn, Illinois. Before serving in Oak Lawn, Pastor Gray served Orthodox Presbyterian churches in Oregon and Florida, and Christian Reformed churches in Vermont and Illinois. He and his wife, Karen, reside in Crown Point, Indiana. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com.