Consolation
II Corinthians 1:5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.
Have you ever tried to console someone that was going through a particularly difficult time. Depending on the condition and focus of their soul, all the words of consolation and comfort may never have seemed to be enough. In fact, when someone is overwhelmed by their circumstance there can even be a demonstrated annoyance to attempted encouragement. For whatever reason, the difficulty of the situation and the enormity of the trial may far outweigh the apparently simple and weightless words of anyone who obviously cannot relate to just how overwhelming the suffering is.
Ok, it is true that a small little fly will have very little effect upon a balance, and even cause aggravation during the weighing process. But you take something of equal or greater mass and apply it to the opposite side of even the largest weight and there will at least be parity. It’s like in the movie with the massive bus teetering on the edge of the cliff about to fall thousands of feet to the valley below. Enough weight applied to the mountain side of the bus can prevent destruction of the vehicle and all that are gathered inside. It might look like a hopeless situation as the bus is slowly tipping towards the chasm, but there will be salvation for all if the super hero is only allowed to apply his significant strength and weight to counter the destructive pull of gravity.
33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
In this life there will surely be a weight of difficulty, a trial of circumstances, and a force of impending doom and destruction applied to the cliff side of our bus. Family, finances, sickness, discouragement and failure of some kind will come at us with a mass that might seem beyond our ability to overcome. There is a significant consolation, though, something of much greater weight and strength than any opposing heaviness that is more than able to counter any destructive weight with its world overcoming power. If the words of Jesus will only be given their due weight and applied to the mountain side of our life, even one of His words has more than enough weight to counter any and all of the attacks that come our way. His consolation will bring a flood of peace and cheer to the most daunting difficulty and through any trial there will be an assurance that we will be lifted to safety and security in Him.
II Corinthians 4:17 For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. (ESV)
