Fear to suffer
2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)
“But He said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
The family Ten Boom had great compassion and interest for missionaries who shared the gospel worldwide. Even as a very small girl Corrie already knew about the sacrifices these people sometimes had to make and how they suffered persecution.
One day Corrie is playing with her dolls in the living room. Her father Casper sits in his comfortable chair next to the fireplace. “Papa, I will never be strong enough to suffer for the Lord Jesus Christ, I’m too frightened, Papa!” “Correman come sit with me. ”Corrie nestles herself safely in her dad’s arms. “When does Papa give you your train ticket when we are travelling from Haarlem to Amsterdam?” “Just before we get on board Papa, I only need it at that time, don’t I?” “You’re right, Correman. That is what it will be like when the Lord Jesus allows you to suffer for His Name’s sake. You will receive power the moment you need it.” Comforted, Corrie continues to play with her dolls.
Many years later, when Corrie is imprisoned in the concentration camps she often recalls these words of her father and realizes how true it is that:
“The suffering that actually comes in our life
Is not as hard as the fear of suffering
But when it comes in your life
He will give strength to take up your cross”
(translated from a Dutch poem)
Questions
- Do you at times wonder if you will be ready to suffer for the Lord Jesus Christ?
- In what way does today’s Bible reading help you to give your fear back to the Lord?
Prayer
Thank You Lord, that You know that I will not be able to suffer for You in my own strength. Thank You that You will give me Your strength the moment I need it.
“Boasting is necessary, though it is not profitable; but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a man was caught up to the third heaven. And I know how such a man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows— was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak. On behalf of such a man I will boast; but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in regard to my weaknesses. For if I do wish to boast I will not be foolish, for I will be speaking the truth; but I refrain from this, so that no one will credit me with more than he sees in me or hears from me. Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself! Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong. I have become foolish; you yourselves compelled me. Actually I should have been commended by you, for in no respect was I inferior to the most eminent apostles, even though I am a nobody. The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance, by signs and wonders and miracles. For in what respect were you treated as inferior to the rest of the churches, except that I myself did not become a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong! Here for this third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you; for I do not seek what is yours, but you; for children are not responsible to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. I will most gladly spend and be expended for your souls. If I love you more, am I to be loved less? But be that as it may, I did not burden you myself; nevertheless, crafty fellow that I am, I took you in by deceit. Certainly I have not taken advantage of you through any of those whom I have sent to you, have I? I urged Titus to go, and I sent the brother with him. Titus did not take any advantage of you, did he? Did we not conduct ourselves in the same spirit and walk in the same steps? All this time you have been thinking that we are defending ourselves to you. Actually, it is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ; and all for your upbuilding, beloved. For I am afraid that perhaps when I come I may find you to be not what I wish and may be found by you to be not what you wish; that perhaps there will be strife, jealousy, angry tempers, disputes, slanders, gossip, arrogance, disturbances; I am afraid that when I come again my God may humiliate me before you, and I may mourn over many of those who have sinned in the past and not repented of the impurity, immorality and sensuality which they have practiced.”
2 Corinthians 12:1-21 NASB1995
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