Praise be to the God and Father of my Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts me in all my troubles, so that I can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort I myself have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into my life, so also through Christ my comfort overflows. If I am distressed, it is for my comfort and salvation; if I am comforted, it will produce in me patient endurance of the same sufferings other Christians have suffered. Grace and peace will come to me from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for my sins to rescue me from the present evil age, according to the will of my God and Father, to whom be the glory for ever and ever. [2Corinthians 1:3-7; Galatians 1:3-5]
Your word says, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroy and where thieves do not break in nor steal, for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” [Matthew 6:19-21] Since losing my son Philip 6 years ago, this verse has many layers and meanings to me. My time with family, friends, church people, and community has become very valuable to me. My prayer time and talking with God has become more valuable to me. Making money, anger, and fighting against things have lost their hold or luster for me. I loved coaching, but it is now just a good memory, and I remember the players I was able to get to know more than any significant game. My classmates from high school are now real people, with interesting lives, and I care how they are doing. Where I rank in popularity is not important. Let me value salvation for the people I love and those I come into contact with, making it my treasure, so that one day we can rejoice in heaven. The greatest thief in history can not steal that.
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing
firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm, and steadfast. To him be the power forever and ever. Amen. 1Peter 5:6-11