Author: Mikki Halbach

Comforted to Comfort: Finding Purpose in the Pain

/ Mikki Halbach / 1 Comment

– A Reflection on 2 Corinthians 1:3–11

Have you ever looked up at God and asked, “Why this? Why now? Why me?”

If you have, you’re not alone. Suffering and struggle are things every believer walks through, yet they often leave us feeling isolated or even confused about God’s presence and purpose.

In his book When Bad Things Happen to Good People, Rabbi Harold Kushner suggested that maybe God can’t do everything—maybe some suffering is just fate. While that theory attempts to explain pain, it ultimately leaves us hopeless.

Thankfully, Scripture offers something much more comforting—and far more powerful. In 2 Corinthians 1:3–11, the Apostle Paul gives us real answers. He doesn’t sugarcoat the pain of life, but he shows us how our suffering can become the very tool God uses to reveal His presence, build endurance, and connect us with others.

”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 tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation. For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us, you also helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the gift granted to us through many.”

Let’s walk through what Paul shares and discover seven reasons God might allow suffering in our lives.

#1- Suffering Helps Us Reflect on Christ’s Love to Share it with Others

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort…” (v. 3)

Before Paul explains anything else, he starts by praising God for who He is: the God of all comfort. That means no matter what kind of suffering we face—grief, stress, sickness, betrayal, fear—He has comfort for it. He doesn’t just see our pain; He enters it. He is compassionate, present, and faithful.

“…, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” (v. 4)

When God comforts us in hardship, it’s not just for our benefit—it equips us to extend that same comfort to someone else. Our pain has purpose. It becomes the bridge between their need and God’s love.

#2- Suffering Teaches Us Endurance

“…which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer …” (v. 6)

Endurance isn’t something we’re born with—it’s built. And suffering is the weight room of the soul. Through pain, we learn to persevere in faith, to wait well, and to remain grounded even when life is stormy.

#3- Suffering Exposes Our Weakness

“…that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life.” (v. 8)

Even Paul—missionary, miracle-worker, writer of Scripture—hit a wall. He had nothing left. Why is that good news? Because weakness is the place where God’s strength begins. When we finally admit, “I can’t,” we hear God whisper, “I can.”

#4- Suffering Reveals Our Need for God

“…that we should not trust in ourselves…” (v. 9)

Suffering has a way of pulling the rug out from under our self-reliance. When life is easy, it’s tempting to think we’re in control. But hard seasons gently push us back into God’s arms, where real security and peace are found.

#5- Suffering Affirms the Power of God

“…but in God who raises the dead.” (v. 9)

God’s not just a comforter—He’s a resurrector. If He can raise the dead, He can breathe life into the driest, most hopeless places in your story. His power is not theoretical; it’s proven.

#6- Suffering Builds Our Trust in God

“who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us …” (v. 10)

Looking back at God’s faithfulness helps us trust Him in the present. Paul isn’t guessing—he knows God will show up because He’s done it before. We all need those “marker moments” in our lives to look back on and say, “God met me there.”

#7- Suffering Ultimately Glorifies God

“you also helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons on]our behalf for the gift granted to us through many.” (v. 11)

When others see God carry you through something hard, their faith grows too. Your story—yes, even the messy parts—can lead someone else to praise God. What a beautiful gift.

Your Pain Has Purpose

Remember verse 3, Paul calls Him “the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort.” He is not just a comforting God—He is the source of comfort itself. He doesn’t offer empty words or temporary fixes. He meets us right where it hurts.

If you’re walking through something heavy right now, let me remind you: God sees you. He’s with you. And He’s using even this to draw you closer, make you stronger, and equip you to walk alongside others who will one day need the comfort you’re receiving now.

Your suffering is not meaningless. It’s a ministry in the making.

Father of mercies and God of all comfort, thank You that You meet us in our lowest moments. Thank You for comforting us not only for our own sake, but so we can turn around and extend that comfort to others. Teach us to rely on You when we feel weak, to trust You when we can’t see the way forward, and to glorify You with every step—even the painful ones. Use our stories to build up others and help us become people who walk with others in their pain, just as You walk with us.  In Jesus’ name,Amen.

Your Heart Sister,
Mikki 💜

“Finding Peace in Letting Go: Trusting God’s Plan”

/ Mikki Halbach

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and 
supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made 
known to God” – Philippians 4:6

I remember studying Philippians years ago, in an Aglow Bible study group, and hearing the leader telling me I should stop worrying. My kids were still pretty young at the time, and I thought, “Anything? Like nothing? Really, God?Impossible!!”

It’s not that I doubted God or didn’t trust what He was saying to me in His word. It was just that with 4 kids, endless sports and activities, a house full of things to do,and church and ministry commitments, I couldn’t help thinking “but I have so much to worry about!”

I know I probably wasn’t alone here. If you’re human, you worry. It’s almost like we can’t help ourselves. We worry about money, our kids, our aging parents, our jobs, our futures, our health, the list could go on and on. Life demands so much from us and as much as we try our best to keep up, it often feels like more than we can handle. So,what do we do? We worry!

But Philippians 4:6 commands us to NOT do exactly that. Yes, it literally tells us, “don’t worry.”

In Matthew 6:25-34, the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells us “Don’t worry” five times in these 10 verses. If Jesus tells us to do something once, of course we recognize it’s important, but FIVE TIMES, we better be paying attention.

But why would Jesus tell us not to worry? Should we not care about all these critical areas of our lives? Our kids, our homes, our marriages, our jobs? Yes, we should care and do our very best to handle those situations and relationships exactly as the Lord wants us to.

Worrying means we think we are the only one that can handle a situation, that we are the only one in control. As much as we hate to admit it, we must understand, we are not the one in control. This is actually great news. There is so much peace in knowing that the outcome of our lives is not entirely reliant on us and our decisions. God is the one who is truly in control. 

One of my life verses for the past year has been 1 Peter 5:6-7 “Humble yourself under the mighty hand of God that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety upon Him because he cares for you”. I have come to realize that more often than not, my worries and anxieties come from my need to control, and my need to control comes from pride.

Thinking we can control anything, tends to show itself in 3 areas:

We want to control others. Yet that is not what God has called us to do. We can influence, instruct, encourage, guide – but we cannot control. People must answer to God for themselves. In Acts 20:30, the Apostle Paul had done all he could for the believers at Ephesus when he finally said, “And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified”. When we are tempted to try to control others, we must put them in God’s hand and remove our own.

We want to control our circumstances. Only God can do that. No amount of manipulation or effort can make right all the wrongs in this world. In Genesis 27, Jacob’s pride caused him to scheme and connive instead of leaning on God. In Genesis 32 Jacob’s anxiety (or worry) was taking over as a result of his earlier scheming. If we try to control our circumstances as Jacob did, we will, as Jacob did, bring consequences that only increase the anxiety and worry we try to avoid in the first place.

Control issues are spiritual issues. The real issue is: Will I trust God?

We want to control our lives. But the Lord tells us that we must yield, not control. We are not able in our own power to do what is right, but under the control of the Holy Spirit we can. (Romans 6:13) When we are tempted to take control, we must stop and commit our needs to God, who alone has the wisdom and power, to rule the good and overrule the evil. 

If you’re anything like me, giving up control is easier said than done. So, what is the solution? Here are some ways that can help us fully trust God instead of worrying ourselves to death.

#1. Acknowledge

Admitting we have a problem is the very first step. Recognizing our pride, and understanding that thinking we can control that which we cannot, is really just making ourselves an idol. Acknowledging the problem is the foundation for getting free from our worry and need to control.

“Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is 
the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” – Proverbs 19:21

#2. Surrender

Once we’ve acknowledged we are not in control, we can surrender the circumstances to God. He already knows we are not going to win on our own and is just waiting for us to raise the white flag.

The start of surrender is doing exactly what Philippians 4:6 tells us to do; fall to our knees and pray. Tell God why we are worrying and what it is that we need, then thank Him for all the times He took care of a situation in a way that we could have never done on our own. 

I have countless examples of times God has stepped in and resolved a situation in miraculous ways as well as examples of times when I didn’t allow God to step in and my own plans ended in disaster. I also have examples of times in my life when God did not answer exactly as I prayed but had something better in store for me. I must trust that His ways are so much higher than mine, so even in those situations, I can fully trust Him.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways 
my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” – Isaiah 55:8-9

#3. Rest

We must understand what rest means. Rest looks different for everyone. Mirriam Webster defines rest this way; cease work or movement in order to relax, refresh oneself, or recover strength.

The idea of rest used to be a real struggle for me because I thought rest meant going to bed earlier or doing nothing other than sitting around watching TV. The truth is, neither of those things give me true rest. For some, rest may mean gardening, journaling, napping, or cooking. I have come to learn that reading a book, hanging out by the pool, or as an extrovert, spending time among lots of friends, is what gives me rest. Rest is you doing what spiritually, mentally, and physically refreshes you.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I 
will give you rest”. – Matthew 11:28

#4. Ownership

If you’ve given your life to God, your life is no longer your own. The Bible makes this clear in Jeremiah 10;23, O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps”. When we remember that we belong to Him, it’s easier to surrender, to submit to Him. If we’ve devoted ourselves to God, we need to then be Spirit led. God owns us. We are His creation. If we can gain this higher perspective, we can overcome our control issues. As a result, we will live a more joyful, free, and victorious life. 

I am a visual person, and I recently ran across a practical method for this step. Make a list, not the typical “to do” list, this list is a bit different. Whenever facing any situation that is causing you worry or anxiety or when you are tempted to take total control, take a sheet of paper and draw a line straight down the middle. On one side write “What I Can Control”, on the other side, write “What Only God Can Control”.

“A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs 
his steps.” – Proverbs 16:9

Some things are our responsibility, we can’t just be idle and expect God be a puppet master. We must prayerfully ask God to give us discernment, to show us what belongs on our list and what should only belong to God AND we must be 100% OK with that.

Philippians 4:6 is followed by verse 7 which says, “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” That peace, that surpasses all understanding, can only come from Christ. We can’t find it on our own, it ultimately comes from giving up control and worry and recognizing that no matter what we face here in this life, it is preparing us for that which comes next. 

Therefore, we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are 
wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 
For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an 
eternal glory that outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on 
what is seen, but on what is unseen.  For what is seen is 
temporary, but what is unseen is eternal –2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Heavenly Father, I pray that you will give us peace in our hearts and the wisdom to go straight to you in our times of worry, anxiety, and fear. Help us to know, deep down in our hearts, that you are the one in control and you want the very best for us. Show us daily what is ours to do and what we must leave to you. Remind us that your plans are perfect, and are not for our temporal pleasures, but for your eternal glory. We love and trust you Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Your Heart Sister,

Mikki 💜

Encouraging Words

/ Mikki Halbach

“But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called ‘Today,’ so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” Hebrews 3:13

When was the last time you felt meaningfully encouraged by another believer?

Some of us may be able to easily remember a recent experience; others may struggle to remember a specific moment we felt encouraged. Some will feel they have experienced Godly encouragement when they haven’t; others will feel they have not experienced Godly encouragement when they actually have. How do we know the difference?

Encouragement today is often worldly, words that offer empty praise, meaningless comfort or false affirmation. Things like:

  • “You did a great job on that project.”
  • “Everything’s going to be okay.”
  • “Of course you were the right one in that argument”

These types of encouragement aren’t necessarily wrong or bad, but as Christians, we should seek to offer something more.

Biblical encouragement, while it does affirm or encourage, offers something far stronger. Real Biblical encouragement cultivates humility, builds courage, and, above all, strengthens our hope in God. Worldly encouragement justifies, Biblical encouragement inspires. Biblical encouragement is not about making others feel better about themselves, but preparing them to know, obey, and enjoy more of God.

God commanded that his people encourage each other because he knows we need it. Jesus warned in John 16:33 “in this world you will have trouble,” which He then followed with a much-needed encouragement: “But take heart; I have overcome the world”

By looking at examples in scripture, I find three things I believe Biblical encouragement should do:

  • TELL THE TRUTH-true encouragement speaks the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15)
  • AIM AT OBEDIENCE-true encouragement calls for obedience to God. (Joshua 1:7)
  • STRENGTHEN HOPE IN GOD-true encouragement strengthens hope in God, not in self. (Isaiah 41:10)

Scripture also gives us examples of four things Biblical encouragement should look like:

  • AFFIRMATION-for those who do not see their value and potential as God sees it (John 1:41-42)
  • PRAISE-for those who are stepping out in faith (1 Thessalonians 1:2-8)
  • CONSOLATION-for those who have had their world “rocked” (1 Thessalonians 5:14)
  • EXHORTATION-for those who are tempted to give less than their best (Hebrews 12:11-13)

To develop any new skill, you need to practice, being an encourager is no different. Don’t wait until it feels natural—practice until it feels natural!

We live in a broken world that wears us down. Sin steals our joy, our bodies break down, our plans fail, our dreams die, our resolve weakens, our perspective dims. Knowing this, as sisters in Christ, why do we not seek daily to encourage one another. Step out in faith and make it your goal to encourage someone every single day and experience the blessings of being used by God in this way.

Your Heart Sister,

Mikki 💜