I have known the
comfort of God. I have known that His
comfort is unique and special and beyond reason. I have felt His comfort over small losses and
huge crises. I have listened to people
tell me about their most challenging experience on this earth and say that they
would not change it if it meant missing out of the spiritual lessons
learned. I knew this, but I couldn't
articulate why it was until my daughter explained it to me. She was reading 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 which
says: 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
receive from God. The scripture was made clearer to her by JI
Packer:
This is a far stronger
statement than might appear, because the English word comfort, both as a
noun and as a verb, has lost so much of its meaning. When, back in the
sixteenth century, it was chosen for the translation of these verses, it meant
what the Greek verb means, namely, renewal of strength through encouragement.
Today, when comfort suggests only some form of cushioning, making
comfortable, and reducing pain, it is easy to miss the true thrust of what Paul
is saying. Paul is praising the father for his endless supply of strength to
keep us going and rising to every occasion, and Paul is assuring the Corinthians
hereby that though they may think of him as down, he is not out
yet.
Rachel commented: I realized I have been
getting it all wrong. I've been expecting/wanting the Father to take away pain,
to soothe me with some celestial balm...but that is not how he works. I've been
upset and angry with him when he doesn't work that way. He IS providing
comfort...it's just through strength/encouragement...more of Himself. And then
verse four goes on to talk about how we provide that same comfort for others.
Obviously that makes more sense...we can't expect other friends to take away our
sufferings/afflictions so we do strengthen each other through
encouragement.
I had never looked at those
verses in that way before. I knew that God’s comfort reached down into the
depths of me and brought me hope, but I never realized what was actually
happening when I was comforted by God’s comfort. His comfort does go far beyond
reducing pain. I am actually transformed and made stronger when I receive
comfort from God. No one else can have this effect on me. My friends and
family are great in comfort. They are there to give a hug or tell me they are
sorry. It feels good to know that you are not alone. There is relief in knowing that someone else
knows your burden and feels for the pain you are experiencing. Human comfort is good and needed. Human comfort doesn't transform me like God’s
comfort.
You know you have received this
comfort when you are able to tell someone else about your experience. Your
presence becomes a comfort. As you share your experience of God being enough
for you during your darkest times, you point people to the God of all comforts
who gives comfort that sustains us in a fallen
world.
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