Comfort

 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 ESV

 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 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. 


Affliction is inevitable. Thankfully for God's people, so is his comfort. Though suffering will come, God can and does sustain us through it.

It's not like God can't empathise with us in our sufferings. The Lord Jesus Christ suffered more than anyone. We deserve to suffer in hell for our rebellion against him, but he didn't deserve to be afflicted.

Why does God allow his people to suffer? So that he can comfort us. Why does he comfort us? So that we can comfort others.

We're not to be stingy with the comfort God gives. We're to tell others of the comfort he gives. He for example has brought me through three bouts of severe mental illness over the years.

'Dear Father God, we're so grateful for the comfort you give us in our troubles. Please help us to comfort others too. In the name of Christ we pray, amen'.

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