This world can be a discouraging place. All Christians are called to encourage one another in the Lord (1 Thess 5:11), but pastors bear a unique responsibility to “care for the church of God” (Acts 20:28). The ministry of the apostle Paul provides a rich example for pastors seeking to encourage their congregations (e.g., 1 Thess 2:12–13). One particularly helpful passage is 2 Corinthians 1, where Paul modeled how to embolden fellow believers toward faithfulness while suffering. Pastors can follow Paul’s example to encourage their church in at least five ways.

  1. Pastors can point to the comfort God provides (2 Cor 1:3)

The character of God provides the foundation for pastoral encouragement. In this text, Paul called God the “Father of all mercies” and “the God of all comfort.” The triune God is the source of all comfort because he relates to his children as a merciful Father who knows their struggles and loves them as his own. Pastors should remind struggling church members that they have a heavenly Father who is “merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness” (Exod 34:6).

  1. Pastors can help others see divine purpose in their suffering (2 Cor 1:4–7)

Because God sovereignly works “all things according to the counsel of his will” (Eph 1:13), believers can examine his purposes for allowing specific afflictions in their lives. In this passage, Paul noted how his suffering deepened his relationship with Christ (2 Cor 1:5), taught him to recognize his dependence on God (2 Cor 1: 9), and gave him an opportunity to extend comfort to others based on his personal experience (2 Cor 1:4–7). These reflections are but a sampling of divine purposes for suffering, but they provide pastors with a place to start as they help church members consider, “How might God use my suffering for good?”

  1. Pastors can share their personal struggles (2 Cor 1:8–9)

Paul was open about his own adversities. His willingness to be vulnerable about his recent challenges was likely aimed at strengthening his relationship with the Corinthian church, but it also set a helpful example. Though Paul was not explicit in this passage about the nature of his recent suffering, he clearly believed God had been at work.

Specifically, Paul learned to rely on God, who “raises the dead” (2 Cor 1:9). Paul taught this truth in various letters (e.g., Rom 4:17; 1 Cor 15:12–58), but it seems that his recent near-death experience had taught him the veracity of such truths on a personal level. This is often how God works—and pastors are not immune. Afflictions provide an opportunity to learn and affirm what we already know. Pastors can encourage their congregations by sharing their own journeys through this process.

  1. Pastors can model hoping in God (2 Cor 1:10)

In verse 10, Paul modeled how he was setting his hope on God. His words both provide a report (“he delivered us”) and proclaim his hope for the future (“he will deliver us”). Paul lived according to the hope that God was able to deliver him over and over again.

However, his specific hope is set on God himself, not the guarantee of future deliverance. This is a subtle distinction, but it is significant when we are suffering. Christians are right to pray for relief, but their ultimate hope should rest on God, not the end of their adversity. Especially in the event that suffering persists, this nuance matters. Thus, Paul modeled a firm conviction that God would see him through his afflictions—in one way or another.

  1. Pastors can teach their churches to support one another in prayer (2 Cor 1:11)

Paul commonly sought prayer support from others (e.g., Rom 15:30–31), and he recognized the pastoral benefits of doing so. Prayer multiples thanksgiving. Praying for others is a way of entering into their sorrow. When believers seek prayer from others, they follow the apostle’s example and provide an opportunity for gratitude to be multiplied within the church.

In a world filled with troubles, God’s people need to be reminded of the truths that provide “a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul.” Paul’s example provides significant ways that pastors can encourage their churches to “hold fast to the hope set before us” (Heb 6:18–19).