March 3: Genesis 41:52; 2 Corinthians 1:3–5; 2 Timothy 4:17; 1 Peter 1:6–7; 1 Peter 4:19; Job 3:17–18; John 11:11; John 11:13; Romans 8:23–25; 2 Corinthians 5:4; Hebrews 4:9; Revelation 14:13 - a podcast by Crossway

“For God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.”

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.

Now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.—But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me.

Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.

Genesis 41:52(Listen)

52 The name of the second he called Ephraim, “For God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.”¹

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2 Corinthians 1:3–5(Listen)

God of All Comfort

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.5 For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.¹

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2 Timothy 4:17(Listen)

17 But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth.

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1 Peter 1:6–7(Listen)

6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials,7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

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1 Peter 4:19(Listen)

19 Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.

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So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God.

“There the wicked cease from troubling, and there the weary are at rest. There the prisoners are at ease together; they hear not the voice of the taskmaster.”

“Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.”… “They… rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!”

“Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep…” Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep.

For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened.—We ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

Job 3:17–18(Listen)

17   There the wicked cease from troubling,
    and there the weary are at rest.
18   There the prisoners are at ease together;
    they hear not the voice of the taskmaster.

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John 11:11(Listen)

11 After saying these things, he said to them,“Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him.”

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John 11:13(Listen)

13 Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep.

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Romans 8:23–25(Listen)

23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees?25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

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2 Corinthians 5:4(Listen)

4 For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.

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Hebrews 4:9(Listen)

9 So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God,

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Revelation 14:13(Listen)

13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!”

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