Daily Archives: February 8, 2026

Today in the Word

Today in the Word – Moody Bible Institute – 2 Corinthians: Suffering Purposefully

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Read 2 Corinthians 1:1–11

Wisdom tells us that before we judge someone we should “walk a mile in their shoes.” It is difficult to make an accurate judgment without comprehending another’s situation in some detail. Less often welcomed is the need to walk a mile in someone’s shoes before we can comfort them. Since we often avoid difficulty and suffering at all costs, the comfort we offer can seem thin or shallow. We haven’t suffered, so we can’t comfort.

In his second letter to the Corinthians, Paul offers a different perspective on the suffering he endured. He suggested that suffering has a purpose. As an apostle and messenger of the gospel, Paul, as well his coworkers, suffered greatly. But he had learned that his sufferings enabled him to comfort others who suffer (v. 4). Amid his difficulties, Paul had enjoyed the comfort of God, and this positioned him to comfort others.

Paul’s sufferings were indeed like Christ’s. He suffered on our behalf. He endured so that we could learn how to endure. He received the comfort of God (Matt. 4:11; Luke 22:43) so he could comfort those who suffer (Matt. 11:28). The writer of Hebrews called Jesus a sympathetic High Priest, able to understand because of what He endured (Heb. 4:15). Paul understood the comfort he received came from Christ who commissioned him and had suffered like him (v. 5).

The final step in this new perspective about suffering was to recognize that his sufferings were purposeful. Paul reasoned that he had endured distress so that his readers could be comforted (v. 6). If he received comfort, it was to comfort them. Rather than suggesting that suffering was a random experience, Paul reasoned there was a purpose for difficult experiences. They gave him a new ability!

Go Deeper

How have your own times of suffering prepared you to comfort others? Can you think of a few specific examples of how God has used those experiences to teach you more about Him? Extended Reading:

2 Corinthians 1-2

Pray with Us

Jesus, at times it seems we go through the valley of tears in this world, but we can rejoice that You gave us the promised Comforter. Thank You that amid our hardships we can come to You and find comfort.

Just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.2 Corinthians 1:5

 

 

https://www.moodybible.org/

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread – When Love Shows Up

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Give generously to [the needy] . . . and do so without a grudging heart. Deuteronomy 15:10

Today’s Scripture

Deuteronomy 15:7-11

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Today’s Devotional

“Why are you crying?” The question was asked by a volunteer for a Christian relief ministry helping those whose homes had been destroyed by Hurricane Helene. The woman (who had burst into tears in the previous moment) replied, “I’m not crying because I lost everything. I’m crying because love just showed up.”

God’s heart shows itself in His desire that we help those in need. When Moses gave the people of Israel God’s instructions before they entered the land He’d promised them, he told them, “Do not be hardhearted or tightfisted” toward the poor. “Rather, be openhanded and freely lend them whatever they need” (Deuteronomy 15:7-8). Their hearts toward the poor were to reflect God’s own: “Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart” (15:10).

Whether in disastrous situations or everyday life, when we give to those in need out of the blessings God has kindly given us, we make evident the love of His Son, who came “to proclaim good news to the poor” (Luke 4:18). In fact, God promises He “will bless” those who share His unselfishness with others (Deuteronomy 15:10), both in this life and the next (see Luke 14:14). We can’t see God yet, but others may catch a glimpse of Him when we emulate His compassion for them. May His love show up as kindness through us today.

Reflect & Pray

How has God shown you kindness when you were in need? How might you show Jesus’ love to someone in need today?

 

Merciful, generous Father, please help me give to others with an open heart, so that they may see Your love in me.

Dig deeper into understanding God’s heart by reading The Meaning of Compassion.

Today’s Insights

As the Israelites prepared to enter the promised land, they were to demonstrate God’s love by giving “generously to [the needy]” (Deuteronomy 15:10). Today, believers in Jesus also have the honor of making God and His love visible to the world by loving others. “No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us” (1 John 4:12 nlt). God demonstrated His love for us in the person and work of Christ: “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us” (3:16). But loving others has a price tag. It may involve giving time, money, or material goods. The key word is giving: “As we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers” (Galatians 6:10). And as we do, others can see God’s love and compassion through us.

 

http://www.odb.org

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – How to Deal with a Downcast Soul

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Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

Psalm 43:5 (NIV)

You may know that the soul is comprised of the mind, the will (ability to make choices), and the emotions. According to today’s scripture, the soul can become downcast or discouraged and disturbed, just as it can be joyful and excited. When we are happy in our souls, we simply enjoy the happiness. But when we are not, we have to deal with our emotions.

Discouragement destroys hope. And without hope we give up. It also steals our joy, and the joy of the Lord is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10). In addition, it robs us of our peace, and God wants us to live in peace, not feeling anxious about anything (Philippians 4:6–7). So, it’s very important for us to learn how to manage discouragement when we feel it.

When discouragement tries to overtake you or when your soul feels disturbed, begin to break free from it by examining your thoughts. What you think about and allow to take root in your mind strongly affects your emotions. Think discouraging thoughts, and you’ll get discouraged. When you change your mindset and begin to think positively, your emotions will improve.

Instead of thinking negatively, think more like this: Well, things are going slowly, but, thank God, I’m making progress. I’m on the right path. I had a rough day yesterday, but today is a new day, and God is helping me. Practice this type of upbeat, positive, godly thinking, and you will defeat the discouragement and disturbances in your soul every time.

Prayer of the Day: Thank You for loving me, Lord. Help me to think in ways that will encourage me, give me hope, and bring peace to my soul.

 

http://www.joycemeyer.org