2.4 Prayer in Time of Distress and Thanksgiving

(Psalm 31:1-19)

I come to you, Lord, for protection; never let me be defeated.
You are a righteous God; save me I pray!
Hear me! Save me now!
Be my refuge to protect me; my defense to save me.
You are my refuge and defense;
guide me and lead me as you have promised.
Keep me safe from the trap that has been set for me;
Shelter me from danger.
I place myself in your care.
You will save me Lord;
You are a faithful God.

You hate those who worship false gods, but I trust in you.
I will be glad and rejoice because of your constant love.
You see my suffering; you know my trouble.
You have not let my enemies capture me; you have given me freedom to go where I wish.

Be merciful to me, Lord, for I am in trouble;
My eyes are tires from so much crying;
I am completely worn out.
I am exhausted by sorrow, and weeping has shortened my life.
I am weak from all my troubles; even my bones are wasting away.

All my enemies, and especially my neighbors, treat me with contempt;
Those who know me are afraid of me; when they see me in the street, they run away.
Everyone has forgotten me, as though I were dead;
I am like something thrown away.
I hear many enemies whispering: terror is all around me.

But my trust is in you, O Lord; you are my God.
I am always in your care;
Save me from my enemies, from those who persecute me.

How wonderful are the good things you keep for those who honor you!
Everyone knows how good you are, how securely you protect those who trust you.

2.3 We Share In Suffering And In Consolation

(2 Corintians 1:3-11)

Let us give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the merciful Father, the God from whom all help comes! He helps us in all our troubles, so that we are able to help others who have all kinds of troubles, using the same help that we ourselves have received from God. Just as we have a share in God’s great help. If we suffer, it is for your help and salvation; if we are helped, then you too are helped and given the strength to endure with patience the same sufferings that we also endure. So our hope in you is never shaken; we know that just as you share in our sufferings, you also share in the help we receive.

We want to remind you, brothers, of the trouble we had in the province of Asia. The burdens laid upon us were so great and so heavy that we gave up all hope of staying alive. We felt that the death sentence had been passed on us. But this happened so that we should rely, not on ourselves, but only on God, who raises the dead. From such terrible dangers of death He saved us, and will save us; and we have placed our hope in Him that He will save us again, as you help us by means of your prayers for us. So it will be that the many prayers for us will be answered, and God will bless us; and many will raise their voices to him in thanksgiving for us.

2.2 God Saves The One Who Trusts In Him During Time of Suffering

(Jeremiah 39:15-18)

While I was still imprisoned in the palace courtyard, the Lord told me to tell Ebedmelech the Sudanese that the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, had said” “Just as I said, I would, I am going to bring upon this city destruction and not prosperity. An when this happens, you will be there to see it. But I. the Lord, will protect you, and you will not be handed over to the men you are afraid of. I will keep you safe, and you will not put to death. You will escape will your life because you have put your trust in me. I, the Lord have spoken.”

2.1 In Their Affliction The Lord Saved Them

(Isaiah 63:7-9)

I will tell of the Lord’s unfailing love;
I praise Him for all He has done for us.
He has richly blessed the people of Israel
because of his mercy and constant love.

The Lord said, “They are my people; they will not deceive me.”
And so He saved them from all their suffering.
It was not and angel, but the Lord himself who saved tehm.
In His love and compassion He rescued them. He had always
taken care of them in the past.