Amazing Grace: 2 Corinthians

Second Corinthians was written in a difficult time for Paul, and its tone is emotional and personal. Paul speaks of his afflictions and trials, and this brought us to a discussion of suffering. Why do we suffer? How shall we find meaning in the seemingly random events that can be so traumatic? A handful of brave ladies shared personal experiences of  receiving an outpouring of grace to help them through a time of trial.

Spencer W. Kimball (who knew a great deal about suffering) said, "“Being human, we would expel from our lives physical pain and mental anguish and assure ourselves of continual ease and comfort, but if we were to close the doors upon sorrow and distress, we might be excluding our greatest friends and benefactors. Suffering can make saints of people as they learn patience, long-suffering, and self-mastery."

There is a lesson for us in the story of Jesus and Lazarus. Jesus knows his friend is ill, and he does not come. He knows Lazarus is dead, and still stays away. When he finally arrives and sees Mary and Martha, grieving for their brother and wounded by the seeming neglect of Jesus, He weeps. Though he must allow us to suffer, it pains him. He feels our pains and sorrows, and weeps with and for us.  Lazarus is raised, joy returns, and everyone is changed by the experience.

Suffering may not feel like a friend, but most of us would agree that it has been our greatest teacher.  Do we remember to reach out to Jesus for help and grace in hard times? Prayer brings revelation, healing blessings bring relief and comfort, the temple brings perspective, and angels stand unseen but oh, so near. Christ's grace is all around us, shoring us up in every kind of trouble. In chapter 4, Paul sums up how, no matter what we suffer, grace can make the difference in what life looks like when viewed through an eternal lens:

8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;

9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;

10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

11 For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.