Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all consolation, who consoles us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to console those who are in any affliction with the consolation with which we ourselves are consoled by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are abundant for us, so also our consolation is abundant through Christ. If we are being afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation; if we are being consoled, it is for your consolation, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we are also suffering. Our hope for you is unshaken; for we know that as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our consolation.

We do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, of the affliction we experienced in Asia; for we were so utterly, unbearably crushed that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death so that we would rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He who rescued us from so deadly a peril will continue to rescue us; on him we have set our hope that he will rescue us again, as you also join in helping us by your prayers, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.

—2 Corinthians 1:3-11

God’s holy word describes suffering, affliction, God’s mercy and comfort and faithful rescue, and His blessing granted through people praying together.

The “Father of mercies,” “the God of all consolation” allows us to experience difficulty and affliction. Often it is through our difficult times that we pause and surrender long enough to experience Him. As a result, it is often through our suffering that we encounter His mercy, comfort and peace.  

Paul describes a time when he was in Asia and he felt “unbearably crushed.” He thought his life was over and in total desperation he fully surrendered and completely relied on God. God rescued him, and this gives Paul confidence that God will rescue him in the future as well. God is faithful and loving and worthy of our trust, and He raises people from the dead, and He has all power and authority in heaven and on earth, why would we possibly place our trust and hope in anyone but Him?

Often it is through our affliction that God reveals His mercy and prepares us for His service. God calls His people into service and He reveals His glory through people, and because we have experienced God’s mercy, grace and comfort as we suffer we are able to console others who suffer. Jesus urges us to allow God’s light to shine through us so that others will experience God’s glory (see Matthew 5:14-16). God is love, He is glory, and our purpose is to be vessels through which His life, light and love flow out to the world.

So we experience God’s mercy and we help others by allowing His love to flow through us while we are in the world. We also help others by praying, and this is truly incredible. The creator of the universe who has all authority and power, who can do immeasurably more than all we can imagine (see Ephesians 3:20), who loves us and is with us responds to our prayers. Certainly the bulk of our prayers should be praise, worship and thanksgiving, but when we intercede for others and petition the Almighty One to act in accordance with His will He responds.

The passage concludes saying, “you also join in helping us by your prayers, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.” As with most of Paul’s writing, the words carry a lot of weight and the statement is dense with meaning. It describes a cycle of unity, prayer, blessing and relationship, each enhanced by the others. Through the unity of transparent relationship, we share our needs and pray for one another and prayers help because God reveals His glory in response to prayer and when we see God’s glory we praise and worship and thank God.   

God’s holy word clearly states that prayers help. God hears our prayers. He listens to our prayers and He grants blessing through the prayers of many. The words fit in our brains and slide easily off our tongues, but how often do we feel as if prayer is akin to doing nothing? When a friend is in need and we ask how we might help, we typically want to do something requiring physical activity. We organize meal deliveries, we help with physical tasks around the home, we want to do something to help, and when the person in need says that they do not need physical help, but they request prayer, we sometimes respond as if the request for prayer is similar to their saying, “thanks, but I really do not need anything” or “thanks, but no,” when in reality they are asking for the most powerful help any of us could ever give. If we truly believe God is who He says He is, and we truly believe that He listens to our prayers and responds, what could we possibly do that is more important than prayer?

I fear we are risk of falling into the trap of thinking that time spent on our knees seeking, communing, petitioning, interceding is wasted time, when in reality it is mighty work. The rub occurs because we know that God calls us to reveal His love through our actions out in the world. While prayer is mighty work, we are also called to action. We must do both and discern the proper balance. 

When our son was just a few months old his doctor recommended a spinal tap. The doctor called nurses to prepare instruments for the procedure and to hold the little guy in the proper position, and when everything was prepared the doctor stopped and prayed. The procedure went well and when one of the nurses commented on how well the doctor performed the procedure he replied saying that it was not him but God who guided his hands. Had he just prayed and waited for God to act, our infant son might not have been healed. Had he acted and not prayed, well, who knows what would have happened? But he found the perfect balance by praying and acting.

And if we all endeavor to do that together imagine the work God will do in response. God promises in His holy word that 1) prayer helps, 2) blessings are granted through prayer, and 3) when many pray interceding on behalf of another, many see God’s blessing and many give thanks to God. God blesses people in response to prayer and by giving lots of people the opportunity to join in the process of praying, lots of people will see God’s response and they too will be blessed. The cycle of unity, prayer and blessing is wonderful and it helps us build the sort of unity within the Body of Christ that Jesus prays for (see John 17:20-24).

When you feel “unbearably crushed,” please remember to surrender and trust God and pray and be transparent with your brothers and sisters in Christ so that they may join you in prayer, and when God reveals His glory through the situation, lots of people will see His glory and encounter Him and grow in faith. God blesses the prayers of many.