«For indeed, when we came to Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were troubled on every side. Outside were conflicts, inside were fears“ (2 Corinthians 7:5).
Fears, like a piece of bread, get smaller when they are shared. The church in Corinth caused Paul a great deal of suffering, and yet he loved it and was concerned for its well-being. Paul confessed to his readers that there were two situations that troubled him: their conflicts and his own fears: ‘Outside were conflicts, inside were fears.” The conflicts had divided the church: moral faults, the profanation of Communion, the quarrels about spiritual gifts… But Pauls love for them never diminished, nor did the apostle renounce his right to be their spiritual father. He was in touch and up to date with them through letters, messengers he sent to them, or personal visits.
Paul experienced fear and worry when he could not meet with Titus in the place they had agreed on. He had sent him to Corinth to re-establish harmony in the church and for him to bring a report about their reactions to his first letter. They had agreed to meet in Troas, but Titus didn’t show up, and Paul decided to go to Macedonia to find him (see 2 Corinthians 2:12, 13). Fear paralyzes our effectiveness. An anxious person cannot concentrate on their daily task because of the constant sensation that something bad is about to happen. ‘During this time of anxiety concerning the church at Corinth, Paul hoped for the best; yet at times feelings of deep sadness would sweep over his soul, lest his counsels and admonitions might be misunderstood.”—The Acts of the Apostles, ch 31, p. 242. Paul’s anguish disappeared when he found Titus and knew that the people had had a positive response to his letter.
We need modern ‘Titus’s” who know how to console those who are in anguish. ‘The heavenly beings are watching and waiting for human agencies to be deeply moved by the needs of their fellow workmen who arc in perplexity and trial, in sorrow and distress.”—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 6, 457. If you allow a problem to overwhelm you, you lose perspective and the problem becomes a giant. Take your eyes off of the worrisome situation and focus them on God. Praise Him, tell Him how much you love Him. When your praise increases, the size of your worrisome situations decrease.
As Charles Péguy once said, ‘The fears of each day are enough, and there is not reason to worry about those of tomorrow.”
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Taken from: Devotional Thoughts for Women 2023
“DAUGHTER OF MINE” Do Not Be Afraid
From: Arsenia Fernandez-Uckele
Collaborators: Xiomara Perdomo & Esteban Cortes
