Comfort

2 Cor. 1:3-7, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts and encourages us in every trouble so that we will be able to comfort and encourage those who are in any kind of trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For just as Christ’s sufferings are ours in abundance, so also our comfort, our encouragement, and our consolation is abundant through Christ, it is truly more than enough to endure what we must. 6 But if we are troubled and distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted and encouraged, it is for your comfort, which works in you when you patiently endure the same sufferings which we experience. 7 And our confident expectation of good for you is firmly grounded and unshaken, since we know that just as you share as partners in our sufferings, so also you share as partners in our comfort. 

We know that Paul suffered greatly during his ministry, both physically from those who hated his teachings (primarily Jews), and spiritually from those who didn’t understand his teachings (chiefly the Corinthians). He mentions that Christ’s sufferings were in abundance in himself, but he contrasts that with the overabundance of comfort and consolation in Christ to endure.

As we read this passage, what does “comfort” mean to us?
Give solace or to soothe; to ease sorrow; bring relief; encourage; to offer aid and help. Comfort in many verses is used to mean consolation (to console). It combines encouragement with alleviation of grief.

I think of babies crying, who will not be consoled until they are picked up, embraced, and rocked. Then they are consoled to the point of alleviating the grief, and sometimes you can even get them to smile. Now I don’t know how to alleviate grief, sorrow, or emotional pain. But it’s not up to us by our own power, or lack thereof.

Look at the end of verse 4...
Paul is not writing just about the alleviation of grief. Paul is saying “the God of all comfort, Who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any tribulation, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted... by God!

God spiritually strengthens and encourages us in the midst of affliction so that we will be prepared to spiritually strengthen and encourage others in the future who face similar hardships.

Can we be of comfort to non-believers? Yes, of course. Can we comfort a believing brother or sister who has lost a non-believing loved one? Yes... we MUST! But we should never offer false hope to anyone.


Our Father in heaven, I thank you that You are the God of comfort for anyone who needs it. Whether You work directly with someone who needs Your comfort, or You choose one of Your saints to administer consolation and love, You will do according to Your will. May we be Your vessel of comfort and love. Your word says, “Blessed are they that mourn for they SHALL be comforted.” We know that “the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” And that is indeed comfort for us. And yet, I would ask You to give comfort to those that mourn, or grieve, or hurt, or are confounded, because it is a time of pain in their lives that I pray would be removed, as You will. Even as our Lord Jesus prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will.” Father, You did not remove that cup which He had to drink, but You comforted Him, “Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him” Luke 22:43.

In His Holy Name I pray, Amen.