Words of Hope Daily Devotional
Broken Heart
Read: 2 Corinthians 12:1-10
Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (vv. 8-9)
Horatio Spafford was a successful lawyer and real estate investor in Chicago in the 1800s. In 1871, his four-year-old son died of scarlet fever. A few months later, Spafford lost all his property in the Chicago fire. And then in 1873, all four of his daughters died in a shipwreck while crossing the Atlantic Ocean. Humanly speaking, it was a disaster beyond what human emotion can handle. But out of such tragedy, Spafford wrote the well-known hymn, “It Is Well with My Soul.” This hymn continues to comfort believers facing suffering today.
In today’s Bible reading, Paul chose to boast about his weaknesses (v. 5) because in his weakness, God’s power was made evident to all. Elsewhere, he writes, “Rejoice in the Lord always” (Phil. 4:4). Although it’s natural to become negative, critical, bitter, and withdrawn in times of suffering, pain, and death, the Holy Spirit’s work is most obvious in times of suffering.
Suffering, pain, and death are part of human life. Experiencing them can break our hearts and spirits but can also become a means to spiritual growth. They can help us to recognize the sufficiency of grace in which the power of God rests. Following Christ can enable a brokenhearted person to be a blessing. What is impossible for humanity is possible with God.
As you pray, ask God to work in your weakest areas and in your suffering, for his glory.
About the Author
SE Asia Ministry Leader
Words of Hope’s South Asia Ministry field leader is based in India and works with more than 70 team members sharing the hope of the gospel in more than 20 languages. Because of security concerns, we have chosen not to share his name.
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