I loved 2 Cor 4:8-9 this week. It says: “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;” Coming to Christ does not promise a trouble free life. Accepting the gospel doesn’t mean we will never to be confused about the way forward. Being obedient to the commandments and our covenants does not guarantee peace or to never be cast down but we are promised these things will not overcome us. We will find the way out. He is our way out.
Elder Patrick Kearon said: “Jesus specializes in the seemingly impossible. He came here to make the impossible possible, the irredeemable redeemable, to heal the unhealable, to right the unrightable, to promise the unpromisable. And He’s really good at it. In fact, He’s perfect at it.”
He can turn everything unimaginably painful and hard into something for our sake and our benefit. The next verse gives a a glimpse into what that benefit could be (2 Cor 4:10 NLT): “Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.” I love the idea that through our troubles, our confusion, our suffering, persecution, and being cast down we can live a life, through which Christ can be seen in our bodies. Our very person will reflect the Savior, His life, His atonement, His grace, mercy, and love. What an incredible gift, and a beautiful way our trials can be for our benefit. We can become like Him.
Paul shares about being in the midst of hardship in 2 Cor 7:5-7: “For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears. Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus; And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more.”
I’m sure you can relate to Paul, if not this very instant in the recent past: physically exhausted, running into obstacles at every turn, attacked for your choices and convictions, and berated by your own doubts and destructive thoughts. Just as it was with Paul it will be for you as well. The Lord sent Titus to bring Paul consolation, the thoughts and feelings of loved ones, and concern for him from people in Corinth. The Lord will also send someone to you. Someone to offer consolation, comfort, someone who can mourn with you or lift you up. Be on the look out for that person. When they reach out to you or start a conversation let them be your Titus.
He also wants to send you to someone. 2 Cor 1:4 says “[God] comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” It is from our own heartache that we can mend another’s heart. It is because we have experienced hardship that we can lift another’s burden. It is because we have suffered loss, disappointment, guilt, frustration, anger, and grief that we can offer comfort to another. We can be Titus to someone else. Be willing to start a conversation when prompted, make a call, send a text, stop someone in the hall, on the street, or at a store. God has sent the Comforter to us that we may be able to comfort others in need of the comfort of God.
In all these unexpected ways, and many more, Jesus can step into our story in surprising ways, and do the impossible. It is through His incredible power, His remarkable understanding, and His unbelievable mercy that He can right every wrong. And He has invited us to be a part of His miraculous work, by receiving our own Titus, and being a Titus to someone else. The impossible is truly an extraordinary thing to be a part of!