Suffering a chronic illness affects people in different ways. Depression may come to live with some people. Results of depression’s visit can include bitterness and withdrawal from friends and family. For the Believer in Jesus Christ, it often mellows our heart to make us more compassionate. The chronic illness allows us empathy and often becomes the point of rapport where we can minister to others now walking down the pathway we have recently traversed.
Today’s Bible Verse:
2 Corinthians 1: 3-4 (KJV), “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who 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.”
What the verse means:
The verses are a reminder of what a wonderful God we have. He is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the source of every mercy. He is the one who comforts and strengthens us in our hardships and trials. Why does he do this? He does this where we can help other. When family, friends, or coworkers are troubled, needing our support, sympathy, and encouragement, we can pass on to them aid and comfort God has given us.
Praying using the verse:
1. Heavenly Father, we praise you for how wonderful you are.
2. We acknowledge you are the Father of our Lord Jesus.
3. We proclaim you as the one who wonderfully comforts and strengthens us in hardships and trials.
4. Thank you for teaching us how to comfort others by your example to us where we can give sympathy and encouragement.
Photo Source: Pixaby
Jimmie Aaron Kepler is a novelist, poet, and award-winning short story writer. His work has appeared in over twenty venues, including Christian publications like Deacon Magazine, Church Leadership Magazine, Discipleship Training Magazine, and Sunday School Leader Magazine as well as secular publications like Bewildering Stories, Beyond Imagination, Poetry & Prose Magazine, and The Dead Mule School of Southern Literature. He is a US Army veteran, honorably discharged with the rank Captain. Jimmie holds a Bachelor of Arts in History with minors in English and Military Science from The University of Texas at Arlington, Master of Arts and Master of Religious Education degrees from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, as well as the Doctor of Education degree. In his mid-forties, he returned to college completing the core curriculum for a computer science degree. He is an author. His books and collections are available on Amazon. This blog post is from his forthcoming book, “Prayers for the Chronically Ill.”
