God Is in Control

Read 2 Corinthians 1:1-5

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Paul began his letter with a doxology. He certainly could not sing about his circumstances, but he could sing about the God who is in control of all circumstances. Paul had learned that praise is an important factor in achieving victory over discouragement and depression.

In 2 Corinthians Paul praised God for present blessings, for what God was accomplishing then and there. During the horrors of the Thirty Years' War, Pastor Martin Rinkart faithfully served the people in Eilenburg, Saxony. He conducted as many as forty funerals a day, a total of more than four thousand during his ministry. Yet out of this devastating experience, he wrote a "table grace" for his children, which today we use as a hymn of thanksgiving:

Now thank we all our God,

With heart and hands and voices,

Who wondrous things hath done,

In whom His world rejoices!

Whatever the Father did for Jesus when He was ministering on earth, He is able to do for us today. We are dear to the Father because His Son is dear to Him, and we are citizens of "the kingdom of the Son he loves" (Col. 1:13). We are precious to the Father, and He will see to it that the pressures of life do not destroy us.

Applying God's Truth

1. As you begin this book, what reasons do you have to offer God thanksgiving and praise?

2. For what are you seeking comfort today?

3. What might you need to do to better comprehend the love that God has for you?

Devotions for Encouragement and Maturity. ©2005 by Dr. Warren Wiersbe. Used by permission of David C Cook. May not be further reproduced. All rights reserved.