Seventy one years ago today we can remember (at least my wife can) some elders, our neighbours, talking fearfully together. Children can sense the attitudes of older people, at times they need the reassuring tone of parent’s voices - and when such is absent, but they are worried and anxious, it is really noticed.

In this ungodly 21st Century genuine reassurance that comes from real faith will become more and more necessary both for ourselves, and to encourage others; but such reassurance must have a sound foundation. Seventy one years ago today the Second World War was declared and the memories of the First World War, which had finished only 21 years before when something like 5 million people died, was still in vivid memory; for this reason, great anxiety was the dominating mood. Their fears proved only to true, 6 years of horror began, more powerful weapons were used, and many many millions died, including 6 millions Jews.

Now our reading today (2 Corinthians 1 & 2) illustrates how Paul puts into a positive light the great affliction he and others had recently experienced. He looked at such afflictions from God’s perspective. He writes: “For we do not want you to be ignorant brothers of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God” [1 v.8,9].

Events during the 1940s certainly enabled those who really believed the God of the Bible to grow in real faith. The time is surely going to come, and maybe quite soon, when, if we have not learnt to rely on God, we will experience very great anxiety. That was the experience 71 years ago, the future may well create an even greater challenge to our faith.

Now note another point Paul makes in this chapter, it is to ask the question, “Do I make my plans according to the flesh?” [v.17] This question makes us think of today’s political dramas! Paul questions human planning as being “ready to say, ‘Yes, yes’ and ‘No, no’ at the same time?” Only those who know the true gospel, and who really rely on God, know how to think positively in planning positively for the future. Paul concludes this chapter by stating, “we work with you for your joy, for you stand firm in your faith.” Let that also be true of us.