The Comfort of Jesus – Part Two
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves received from God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
When you’re going through a difficult season in life, do you ever ask, “Why?”, “Why me, Lord?”, “Why am I having to go through this?”
I believe the second part of this verse provides an answer to those tough questions. Though life seems unfair at the time, God will use these journeys in our valleys for His good – to grow us stronger in our faith, to teach us to trust Him more, and finally, so that we may comfort others!
Again quoting from Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary, “Past experiences 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, and thereby to make suitable returns for benefits received. Thus both trials and mercies will end in good to ourselves and others.”1
Our faith and hope grow when we see God work in our lives. He becomes very real to us when we experience firsthand His taking care of us in the midst of whatever we may be going through. I once read a church sign several years ago when I was going through a rough time. It said, “When God is all you have, God is all you need.” It is true - He is enough!
Once we see His faithfulness and His goodness, we learn to trust Him the next time. When we may have before worried over a situation, we can now wait on the Lord to follow through again. He wants us to trust Him; He is delighted when we have faith! I am reminded of the old hymn “‘Tis so Sweet to Trust in Jesus”:
“’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, Just to take Him at His Word;
Just to rest upon His promise; Just to know, “Thus saith the Lord.
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him! How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er!
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus! O for grace to trust Him more!”2
Finally, once we have experienced His comfort and His goodness, it becomes our duty to pass it on! We are called as Christians to help one another by interceding in prayer, speaking encouraging words, and carrying each other’s burdens. Allow God to use you to encourage someone else, thereby bringing good out of your suffering. Take comfort in knowing He does not allow us to suffer without using each of us for a greater purpose!
Heavenly Father, help me to have a deeper, stronger faith in You and Your promises. Help me to learn to trust You more each day. Use my struggles for Your glory and Your purpose. Show me, Lord, how I may comfort others. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Life Applications:
If you’re going through a trial right now, ask God what He is trying to teach you through this process.
Write down some of the ways God has provided for you or taken care of past situations in your life. Perhaps keep a prayer journal, listing prayer requests with prayers answered as well as unanswered. Sometimes God’s best for us is choosing not to answer the way we might expect.
How can you be a blessing to someone else by comforting them with the comfort you have received?
Key Scriptures:
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.” James 1:2-3 (NIV)
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 (NIV)
“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” 1 Peter 5:10 (NIV)
Endnotes
1) Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary, Bible Explorer 4 Limited Edition CD-ROM, WORDsearch Corp., Austin, TX, www.WORDsearchBible.com
2) Copyright, 1882 and 1910, by Wm. J. Kirkpatrick. Hope Publishing Co., owner.
Copyright 2008 by Christy Long. All rights reserved.
Comfort to Comfort Ministries
www.christylong.org
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