Articles
The God of All Comfort
Since January of this year, the brethren of this congregation have seen many loved ones and even themselves overcome with physical afflictions. Others have lost loved ones, and some may be tempted to ask God why. God has a purpose for everything and everyone. The point of this article is to stress that God is the source of all comfort under such situations as mentioned above and even beyond that. There is a certain extent of encouragement and comfort that we can provide to ourselves and to our neighbors when they are experiencing such afflictions. I am reminded of Job who, when he had lost all his livestock and his ten children, was comforted by his three friends. They did not try to “overdo it” but they simply sat with him. After a period of time the silence was interrupted, and Job’s friends were no longer a source of comfort but rather pain. I share that simple illustration with you because they could only provide Job with comfort to a certain extent.
The Apostle Paul opens up the second letter to the Corinthians this way: “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 will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God”(2 Cor. 1:3-4). I want you to take keen notice to what Paul has said. He does not say the God of some comfort or most comfort, but rather He is the God of ALLcomfort. I believe Paul is emphasizing that we do not have all the answers sometimes and like Job’s friends, we may only be able to extend comfort to a certain extent. Where we fail, and we cannot find all the solutions, do not fear for God will be there for His people. Paul probably has a particular situation of comfort in mind when writing this salutation, but God comforts in all ways and by all means. The following is a list of ways God comforts us:
1. Through His word– Several psalms in the Old Testament are referred to as Psalms of Lament. The authors were struggling with difficult problems and they needed help and comfort during these situations. Several of these psalms demonstrate a reliance on God’s law and His words as a source of comfort for them (cf. Psa. 63, 69, 119). When we struggle with afflictions and we need comfort, sometimes the best place to turn is God’s word. Jesus’ word’s and the encouragement that we find in the scriptures are more than enough to rejuvenate our spirits and lift up our hearts. If you need some comfort and encouragement, why not turn to God’s word?
2. Through His people– If you noticed in the verses above, Paul said God comforted them and they can in turn comfort others. God designed the church for many purposes and one of the greatest benefits we reap from His design is that we have family to lean on. I’m not saying that our physical family or even friends are incapable of imparting comfort and encouragement, but I am saying that God gives us a strong support system in our brothers and sisters in Christ. We who are all of the same mind and same goals can use His words and our own experiences to help our brother or sister to keep fighting the good fight and to press on. We can be there for them even if it means sitting down with them in silence. We can share with them memories and thoughts that will point them to Christ for He indeed is the source of all comfort. Aren’t you thankful for God’s people and the encouragement and comfort that they provide?
3. Through His grace–I mentioned earlier that I believe Paul had a particular situation of comfort in mind when he wrote 2 Cor. 1:3-4. The Corinthians were a mess in the first letter and thus they needed to understand their need to repent.
In the second letter, Paul wrote commending them and encouraging them for their willingness to repent. You see, they received the first letter and were convicted of their wrong doings and thus sought God’s mercy and grace earnestly (cf. 2 Cor. 7:6-13). In a very real sense they were fulfilling what Jesus said on the sermon on the mount: “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted”(Matt. 5:4). They were mourning over their sin and their errors and Paul needed them to know that God would comfort them via His grace. Isn’t that amazing? All the problems and consequences that sin brings along (Read 1 Corinthians and observe) can be resolved if we turn away from sin and seek God’s help. He is more than willing and more than able to comfort us. The comfort God gives us from sin is perhaps the greatest comfort we will ever have!
4. Through His home– Paul before becoming an Apostle of our Lord, was a ruthless persecutor of God’s people. I’m certain that Paul had to fight his guilt and everything that came along with that throughout his lifetime. I know that because he expounds on this in Phil. 3:1-13. Paul said he needed to forget about the past and press on to what was ahead. What was ahead? Heaven! Paul found a great source of comfort and encouragement knowing that He would see God one day and we can too. We need to know and understand that the things we face here in this lifetime will be difficult and they will be hard. We will struggle in our faith from time to time, but would we go so far as to give up heaven? Paul was not going to do that, and neither should we.
God’s grace comforts us from sin and if we do His will then we will receive the ultimate source of comfort: Dwelling with God in Heaven forever! Elsewhere in Romans 8:18 Paul said: “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” Job knew this and that’s why he ultimately turned to God for help. He trusted and relied on God because He knew God was the source of all comfort. His friends could only help him to a certain extent, but God could do much more. May we all turn to the God of all comfort and may we strive to serve Him forever.
