Far More Exceeding and Incomparable Glory

"For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us, you also helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the gift granted to us through many.  2 Corinthians 1:8-11 NKJV

Sufferings and tribulations among the Christian's experience are inevitable and unavoidable because through which we learn that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead. Paul wasn't an exception. He says that he despaired even of his life. You and me either. Yes, everyone, every Christian in all ages. In fact, our Lord Jesus Christ himself went through the sufferings of the cross and the blood. 

They are designed for us to trust in Him only in this age and ages to come. Our Lord Jesus says His disciples in the Sermon on the Mount. "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you." (Matthew 5:11-12 NKJV) They are definitely unpleasant at the time and all but painful. Hebrews says, “Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” (Hebrews 12:11 NKJV).

That’s why Apostle Paul welcomed and gloried [delighted] the sufferings which he had gone through (2 Corinthians 11:22-28). It’s our sure hope that our God is able to deliver us and will do. All the sufferings are working together for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, Paul says. “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” (Romans 8:18 NKJV) 

“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:17-18 NKJV)