surrounded

For even when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted at every turn—fighting without and fear within.

2 Corinthians 7:5

When we give to the Lord all that we have, serving Him faithfully and tirelessly, we still can expect pain and difficulty. Paul described his arrival into Macedonia as a time of total affliction both of body and soul. He was surrounded by physical threats and struggled with internal fears. But God provided encouragement.

Just in time, Titus arrived with the good news that encouraged a weary and perhaps discouraged apostle: the Corinthians had responded in tender repentance to Paul’s strong admonition in the letter known as 1 Corinthians. They were obeying the gospel. They had turned from their divisiveness, immaturity, immorality, and doctrinal apathy and sought to communicate their genuine faith to Paul. This strengthened the apostle. A loving God brought encouragement to His servant.

There are seasons of hard work, and we may feel bad, but God is good. There are pains we bear as we grieve sin in ourselves and in others, but God grants mercy, repentance, and forgiveness in Christ. God gives strength to the weary. He rewards the faithful. And in that grace all the difficulties are worth it! Amen!