2 Corinthians 11:27; In Weariness and Painfulness

2 Corinthians 11:27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.

There are much weariness and painfulness in the work of the ministry. Whether they are physical afflictions or emotional anguish, the Lord allowed His servants to partake of the afflictions of the gospel. The Apostle Paul truthfully recorded these afflictions so that God’s people may be prepared for such testings in the work of the ministry. It seemed here the afflictions could have been so acute yet the Apostle Paul did not flinch or give up. The Lord’s grace was the great enabler. There was overcoming in the way he presented these sufferings.

Isaiah 40:28-31 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

It was the Lord and His presence and power that made all the work possible. As he said in Philippians 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. God not only energise the heart, providing the wisdom, but God also was with him in the doing, renewing his strength and providing for him the power to be refreshed and increaseth his strength to endure and overcome.

What a great God we serve. All praise and glory to His holy Name. Amen.