Sunday: Thanksgiving
Daily Lesson for Sunday 23rd of August 2026
Read 2 Corinthians 1:3-7. What is the reason for Paul’s attitude of thanksgiving here?
Paul’s thankfulness focuses on the comfort that God provides for those who are suffering. In this passage, the verb parakaleō (to comfort) and the noun paraklēsis (comfort) occur together ten times. This represents one third of all occurrences of these words in 2 Corinthians (29 times). God is portrayed as the “Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4, NKJV).
“Come Unto Me” Image ©Lars Justinen by Lars Justinen of GoodSalt.com
The comfort one receives from God is not to be kept for oneself (2 Corinthians 1:4-5). Only the afflicted heart that became the recipient of God’s consolation is able to impart comfort effectively to those in affliction, too.
Paul could comfort others because he himself, in his sufferings, received comfort from God. “If we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation. . . . Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation” (2 Corinthians 1:6, NKJV; emphasis supplied). This is love!
What is Paul expressing thanks for in 2 Corinthians 1:8-11?
Paul speaks of trouble “beyond measure, above strength” that made him and his fellow workers fear that the end had come to them (2 Corinthians 1:8). For a moment, they thought the resurrection was their only hope. However, God delivered them, and the scenario changed (2 Corinthians 1:10). From the fear of death (2 Corinthians 1:8), they rise to an implicit hope that God would deliver them once again (2 Corinthians 1:10). God’s victories in the past give us confidence that He will do the same in the future. God uses afflictions to teach us to trust in Him. Hardships can lead us to spiritual maturity, at least to the extent that we allow them to draw us closer to God. Paul’s thanksgiving also displays the power of intercessory prayer and the gratitude we experience because of God’s deliverance (2 Corinthians 1:11).
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What have you found helpful in dealing with the suffering that, one way or another, we all face? |
Sympathy, empathy and compassion are three closely related words in the English language. Sympathy is feeling sorry for someone; empathy os a deeper sorrow for someone through shared experiences; compassion is doing something about it. One of the Greek words for compassion literally means “moved in the guts”! I like that expression, it sounds like the sort of explanation an Australian would give. The word for compassion is used about 12 times in the New Testament, mostly describing Jesus response to the pain and suffering of others. And when I read it, I transliterate “Jesus was moved in the gut …” That is more than an emotional response. It is the beginning of an action.
Paul, talks about compassion in the introduction to II Corinthians. He uses other words like mercy and comfort, but the idea of being “moved in the gut” is still there.
Christianity is built around the idea of compassion rather than competition.
Paul understood that thanksgiving was an essential expression of trust in God, embracing His faithfulness in the past, His presence in the present, and His promises concerning the future. In 2 Corinthians 1, Paul had every reason to complain, having experienced suffering, affliction, and even despair, yet he chose to praise God as “the Father of mercies and God of all comfort” (2 Corinthians 1:3–4). He recognised that thanksgiving does more than acknowledge God’s blessings—it draws the believer’s heart toward God and strengthens confidence in His faithfulness. Paul understood that murmuring focuses on our circumstances, while thanksgiving focuses on God; complaining expresses doubt, but thanksgiving expresses faith. Even in suffering, Paul could give thanks because he knew that God was present, comforting him and using his trials to minister to others. Thus, thanksgiving became Paul’s response to God’s faithfulness, giving glory to God while keeping his heart open to His comfort, guidance, encouragement, and sustaining grace.
Human life particularly our Christian walk is always characterised by challenges, frustrations and disappointments. However, the Bible seriously encourages us to develop a spirit of gratitude and thankfulness beyond our circumstances. There is so much to thank God for regardless of our current circumstances. Gratitude to God should not solely be based on our feelings but the condition of our heart. For instance, Job’s suffering did not determine his sense of gratitude and thankfulness to God. “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken; blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:20-21). As for Paul, he resorted to worship amidst of his tormenting circumstances. “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort.” (2 Corinthians 1:3, KJV). This tells us to praise God simply because of His character.
It is truly uplifting to note that God is the Father of all comfort, and he meets us at our points of afflictions. God may not take away all of our afflictions, but He has promised to be with us in our crucibles. Job was so confident in God to the point of death. “Though He may slay me, yet will I trust in Him” (Job13:15). Our hearts should be conditions to give God praise and thanks beyond our current circumstances. We may not understand our circumstance, but because we have unwavering faith in God, our hearts will cause for praising and thank giving.
Perhaps one great point not to miss while we are in our crucibles is that our trials also become a blessing to others. This sounds like a paradox. Our can God allow my pain to become a blessing to someone? Paul says that our pain is an opportunity to comfort others (2 Corinthians 1:4). God will give a meaning and purpose to our pain. Our pain will not go in vain. A believer who has received God’s favour during hard times is more qualified to console and comfort others. As the saying goes, experience is the best teacher. Our experience may become a source of hope for others. Our testimonies speak courageously to those who may want to give up.
Perhaps another point not to miss is that our gratitude and thanks giving is an acknowledgement of God’s sovereignty. Job understood this spiritual fact that God is sovereign and He deserves our praise even when we do not understand why we are suffering(Job 2:10). God is still a good God no matter what we go through. He can use my pain to bring about the greater good for His glory and our salvation. It can never be better than what Paul says, “our God is the Father of mercies” and “the God of all comfort.”.
Suffering and pain seem to be our lot in this life. Yet we are not left to suffer alone. God himself comforts us through the Holy Spirit, the “parakletos,the Comforter” comforts us in all of our afflictions whatever form they may come in, persecution, grief, illness, financial difficulty, etcetera. (2 Cor. 1:4) Also other fellow travelers to the “Golden City” are instructed to comfort others with the comfort that they have received on their journey. We ourselves are likewise instructed to share the care that we have received along the way.
Dysfunctional Christianity operates like the world, everyone for themselves. True functional Christianity is others focused, not self focused. We are called to bear one another’s burdens. (Galations 6:2) We are an open ended support group. This blog is an example. How did Jesus say that the world would know that we are his followers? (John 13:35) By our love for one another, and not just those who are like minded. There’s a lot of evangelism in love. “People don’t care what you know until they know that you care.” The only way that I can rejoice in suffering is in knowing that God is going to bring something good out of it. (Romans 8:28) i must admit though that I haven’t gotten to the point of saying, “thank you Lord, may I have another trial.” 😉😊
One of the lessons I see in 2 Corinthians 1:3–7 is that adversity can become a powerful force for creating Christian community.
Growing up in Jamaica, I remember a time when being an Adventist was considered strange or unusual. Because we were often different from the surrounding culture, Adventists seemed to have a deeper sense of belonging to one another. We shared more than the same doctrines—we shared the experience of being different, and that experience bound us more closely together.
Today, Adventism is one of the major denominations in Jamaica, and that acceptance is certainly a blessing. But I believe that this acceptance has also come at a great price. As adversity decreases, our sense of closeness can decrease as well. Prosperity, comfort, and social acceptance can unintentionally make us more independent and less connected to one another.
Perhaps the challenge for the church today is not to seek adversity, but to recover the love, fellowship, and connectedness that adversity once produced.
Paul’s message challenges us to become the kind of church where no one suffers alone, no one rejoices alone, and no one feels forgotten. The comfort God gives us is never intended to stop with us or separate us from one another—it is meant to flow through us to someone else.
Perhaps one of the greatest signs of a healthy church is not simply how many people attend, but how deeply its members love, support, and care for one another.
Suffering may help us see things we normally don’t see. Going through hardships makes anyone grow. The best reaction to suffering is to practice thanksgiving.