Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father who is ever compassionate and the God who sends all comfort, he who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we are able to comfort those who are in any kind of affliction’….  (2 Corinthians 1: 2-4)

When Paul wrote this he was writing as someone who knew trouble and if anyone knew trouble it would be Paul. His life up to this point had been a series of challenges, many placing him square in the eye of trouble. Now he shares that experience of God given endurance with those who find themselves in trouble.  Those who sought to become Christians in Paul’s day, chose to face trouble. It would not be uncommon that they found themselves abandoned by family, friends or their pagan neighbors, even at times experience persecution from official powers. Sound falmilar….Could easily be applied to some people today and Churches…most any Christian out reach program. William Barclay notes “It is always costly to be a real Christian, for Christianity is not true Christianity without the cross.” One of the key points of comfort is that we are able to endure. The Greek word does not signify a grim, bleak acceptance of trouble but one that leads to triumph. Christians are able to endure because the Spirit enables us to just not accept suffering but to triumph over it. Difficulties strengthen our faith and in most instances we emerge much stronger and better disciplined in the faith.

In 2Corinthians 1: 3-7  the word comfort as a noun or verb appears nine times. Its root lies in the Latin fortis which means brave. Christian comfort brings with it the courage to cope with all the things life can do to us. It was Paul’s belief that God surely would never seek to comfort us without enabling us with the strength and courage needed to receive and accept such a gift. We must remember that to suffer for Christ is a privilege. The big takeaway from all this is that our comfort from the bad things of life, enables us to comfort others who are suffering. 

Hebrews 2: 18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.  

Comfort is God given and the Comfort  we receive during our suffering and sorrow will help us to comfort others in theirs.

Life is Good

jk