Missions Monday: Afflictions and the Mission

Why are we afflicted? Without a personal God, the answer to this question is, “For no reason whatsoever.” Without God, your sufferings are just random events in a random world. In 2 Corinthians, Paul shows us how to suffer. He embraces it. He knows that God is doing it, and God has reasons.

Paul’s sufferings are personal, but the reasons for the suffering are not personal. Paul is suffering while on mission in Asia, and his sufferings are directly related to his mission there. He and his coworkers had a deadly affliction so that they would “not trust in ourselves,” but in God. God doesn’t want Paul doing the mission on his own because that’s impossible. When we suffer, and we look for hope in God’s reasons, we should direct them toward the mission, not ourselves. More than just, “How can I trust in God through this,” but “How can God accomplish the mission through me—through this suffering?” How can your weakness be put to use for God’s glory in Sunset Park? How is your suffering forcing you to rely on God and find hope in His mission, not your own?

Your suffering is also for the church. Paul doesn’t ask the Corinthians to feel sorry for him; he invites them into the suffering where they can also receive the benefits! Through prayer, they are all better off because of the suffering.

Brooklyn Baptist Church has a mission, and that mission will be accomplished through suffering and prayer. 2 Corinthians is still a book for us. We are still the New Testament church. Unlike modern people who despise suffering, we need to embrace as Paul did. Through prayer, it will drive us to the mission and allow God to do great things through us.