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The God of All Comfort

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 “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.”

If anyone in Scripture needed comforting, it was Job, but his so-called friends only made Job more miserable. In 16:2, he said ““I have heard many things like these; you are miserable comforters, all of you!” Fortunately, Job’s friends and family eventually learned, and in Job 42:11, “All his brothers and sisters and everyone who had known him before came and ate with him in his house. They comforted and consoled him over all the trouble the Lord had brought on him.” Friends do fail us, but God never does!

Enjoy what David said in Psalm 23:4, “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Isn’t that interesting, that the Shepherd’s tools – the rod and staff, used for guidance and discipline, bring comfort?! Discipline brings boundaries into our lives, and especially when God, our Good Shepherd is doing it – it’s always for our own good, and always increases the order and stability in our lives. Psalm 119:76 says, “May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise to your servant.” How comforting is it to realize that God’s love never, ever fails?!

When Jesus quoted His mission statement from Isaiah 61:2, it included “to comfort all who mourn”. In Matthew 5:4, Jesus said “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” It might seem strange that Jesus said “blessed – or happy and to be envied”, are those who mourn. But until we are in a situation where we recognize that we need God, we are seldom ready to receive His comfort or guidance.

So, when we are comforted, how are we to respond? A beautiful answer is in Philippians 2:1-3, “Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.”

Reflection: Is our admiration and love for our awesome God growing? Are we seeing Him as more than enough for all our needs? As we see Him concerned about the details of our lives, isn’t it a joy to serve Him?