The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

II Corinthians 1:3-5, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

the Father of mercies and God of all comfort; 4 who comforts us in all our affliction

so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort

with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For just as the sufferings of Christ

are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.”

Life is filled with both blessings and distresses. It seems natural that we focus

on the distresses more than on the blessings. But Paul is always stressing the

blessings. He has a bright and positive outlook on life. He blesses the LORD

Jesus Christ and God the Father for all mercies and comfort.

Mercies (????????? oiktirmos) is tender concern for one in trying conditions or

distress. Comfort (?????????? paraklesis) is coming to the aid of someone

in need of encouragement. Affliction (?????? thlipsis) means all manner of trouble.

But why does the LORD allow all of these troubles to come upon us anyway?

First of all, since Christ suffered for us, who are we to think we should escape

suffering? More importantly, His purpose in allowing sufferings to befall us is

that we may know how to comfort others who are suffering.

Don’t you think that a dentist who has had a toothache knows better how his

patient feels since he’s had a similar problem? Doesn’t the man in charge of

hiring workers better know how the out-of-work men feel if he himself has

suffered the loss of a job? It all about life’s training. Losing a job yourself

becomes a help when you have to terminate someone from their job. In

situations like these and those much more serious, Christ comforts us. And

in that training and comfort we call Him Blessed!

May Christ’s love and blessings be yours today,

Nana & Dado III

P. S. If you find these Letters helpful, please feel free to share them

with others.

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”