Comfort

 

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in our entire affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 

--2 Corinth 1:3-4 ESV

To comfort is to cheer and encourage. The word has a positive force that is missing in its dictionary synonym “console,” as “comfort” indicates the dispelling of grief by providing strength. For example, the verse in Isaiah 40:1—‘“Comfort, comfort my people’, says your God” is more forcible than “console,” which affords only the power of calm endurance of affliction. But “comfort” imparts a bright hope for future and a high incentive to present activity. These are the gifts of the Divine grace, and include the idea of counsel as well as consolation.

Although we live in a world full of trials, troubles, and tribulations, we do not live in a world that only has trials, troubles, and tribulations. We live in a world where there is also the comfort of God. In the midst of the difficulties of life, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort sends us the comfort we need to help us go through everything that comes our way. Indeed, He sends us the comfort we need to overcome all these things.

 Many think that when God comforts us, our troubles would go away. But if that were the case, we would turn to God only for relief and not out of love for Him. We must understand that being “comforted” can also mean receiving strength, encouragement and hope to deal with our troubles. The more we suffer the more comfort God gives us.

 Besides, in our troubles, God equips us to comfort others who are suffering similar troubles. This is why Luther prayed, “Smite, Lord, smite, for my sin is forgiven; if thou hast but forgiven me, smite as hard as thou wilt". He that has experienced one kind of affliction is able to comfort others in that affliction: he that has experienced all kinds of afflictions is able to comfort others in all. Paul wrote in 2Corinth 1:6 “If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you, patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer”.

What are these comforts that the Apostle Paul has in mind? He does not specifically identify them. They could be virtually anything. In one instance, for example, the Apostle Paul was in Macedonia and he was devastated because of the hardships he had suffered there. He was comforted, however, by the coming of Titus and by the good news Titus brought with him about the Corinthian church's longing, mourning, and zeal for him (2 Corinthians 7:6-7). The reason the comforts of God could be anything, then, is because He designs them specifically for the situations we find ourselves in. As it is His nature ever to have mercy, He knows how to proportion His supports to the requirement needed during a particular circumstance.

People who have received the comfort of God in the midst of affliction are better able to be used by God as a source of comfort to others who are going through the same kind of affliction. There is little doubt that the best comforter is the one who has already been comforted by God in the relevant area of life. Such people know the comfort of God can help overcome Satan's attempts to harm us and know how to help others in need to receive the comfort of God. The favours God blesses us with are not only to make us cheerful, but also to render us useful to others.

 All comforts come from God, and our sweetest comforts are in Him. We are encouraged to come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. The Lord is able to give peace to the troubled conscience, and to calm the raging agonies of the soul. These blessings are given by Him as the Father of His redeemed family. God speaks peace to souls by granting the free remission of sins; and He comforts them by the energizing influences of the Holy Spirit, and by the rich mercies of His grace. He is able to bind up the broken-hearted, to heal the most painful wounds, and also to give hope and joy under the heaviest sorrows.

 In 2Corinth 1:3 God is referred to as the "Father of the Lord Jesus," doubtless because it was through the Lord Jesus, and Him alone, that He had imparted the consolation which Paul had experienced. He knew no other God than the "Father of the Lord Jesus;" he knew no other source of consolation than the gospel; he knew of no way in which God imparted comfort except through his Son. That is genuine Christian consolation which acknowledges the Lord Jesus as the medium by whom it is imparted; that is proper thanksgiving to God which is offered through the Redeemer. In John 14:27 the Lord says “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid”. “For, the more we suffer for Christ the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ” (2Corinth 1:5).

 

It is necessary for us to bear in mind this world is not “home’’ for a Christian. We are pilgrims, wayfarers and strangers. God doesn’t want us to become too comfortable here, get too much attached to this world and loose sight of the eternal home we are headed to. Jesus and many of the New Testament authors warned that life was not going to be easy for Christians. Failures and disappointments are some of God’s ways of warning you to correct your ways or else……..It is a “wake-up” call. The troubles we undergo strengthen our faith. God also uses trials to groom us for a higher purpose.

 

The favours God bestows on us, are not only to make us cheerful, but also that we may be useful to others. He sends comforts enough to support those who trust in and serve him. Their hope and trust were not in vain; those who trust Him will never be put to shame. Past experiences must encourage faith and hope, and lay us under obligation to trust in God for time to come. And it is our duty, not only to help one another with prayer, but in praise and thanksgiving. Thus both trials and mercies will end in good to us and others. Like everyone else in this troubled world of ours, you may have been going through various kinds of calamities. The God of comfort, however, is preparing to send you the very thing you need to help you persevere and overcome. Keep your eyes and ears open, then, for the comfort that is about to come your way.

 

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by His  grace gave us eternal comfort and a wonderful hope, comfort you and strengthen you in every good thing you do and say (2Thes 2:16).