Day 20: 2 Corinthians 1:5-6

“For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. 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.”


Paul was no stranger to suffering. I don’t think any New Testament character, outside of Jesus, suffered more. Paul was in prison more, thrown out of more towns, stoned and left for dead, persecuted at every turn, and worse, rejected by many of his own churches at one time or another, as his letters to the Corinthians show.

This should say something to the Christian leader. If you are doing your job, suffering isn’t an option, it’s part of the job description. God allows us to make much of Him through joy and suffering. You get both sides of it.

Suffering isn’t an idea that we relish. In this day and age of instant comfort and gratification, we aren’t use to suffering. We’re so not used to it that when we see it on the nightly news in some other country it’s all we can do to look at it. The idea that we will suffer doesn’t set well with us.

However, look at what Paul writes. He states very plainly that with the suffering that he suffers, Christ offers abundant comfort. That is a cause/effect statement. We have comfort in Christ because of our position in Christ.

Take that to heart. You will suffer as a leader. Long hours, persecution, hard work, rejection, and failure; all these and more are yours. But with this is the comfort that only Christ can bring. A “peace that passes all understanding.”

Look closer at what Paul is saying: Paul’s suffering benefited his followers. So did his comfort. Our suffering sometimes does the same thing for our followers. We often suffer for their benefit. That’s love. All we have to do is look to Jesus, whose suffering benefited us, as an example of this kind of love and suffering.

Don’t be surprised when you suffer. It’s part of the gig. But know that Christ brings comfort. Seek it from Him. Seek it only from Him.

CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLE: A Christian leader will suffer in some manner. It’s part of the job; however, Christ offers comfort through the suffering.

Here’s a set of verses to meditate on today: Philippians 4:4-7

Prayer: Father, thank You for the promise that with suffering comes Your comfort. Thank you that I am worthy to suffer for Your sake and for that of the people that follow me. Help me to face suffering with dignity, patience, and perseverance. In Christ’s name, Amen.