I believe in supporting folks through hard times! Hopefully that would be the case, as for 8 years we’ve supported people fighting cancer and other trials through our non-profit, Stronghold Ministry (see our new website). Yet there were times during my Stage IV melanoma cancer battle when human comfort just didn’t cut it, like when my oncologist told me I had “days to live” in 2003. I had been experiencing more love from friends, church and family than I had ever thought possible. Still, no human could tell me what death might be like, or how best to prepare. Some of my need wasn’t natural, it was supernatural.
In 2 Corinthians, a Bible book about suffering, Paul immediately launches into answering some of the most common questions of sufferers. Is God with me? Does He even care? What is He doing about my pain?
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. – 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Let’s explore several things about His comfort from this passage:
- He’s not only “God,” but our “Father!” As God, He’s all-powerful! And as Father, He held up our brother Jesus through His great trial on the cross. He knows exactly HOW to comfort and has the power to deliver it well!
- He’s “the Father of mercies!” He created mercy and extends it perfectly to those who are in Christ (more on how to receive His free gift of mercy here). Because of Jesus’ sacrifice of His own life in a believer’s place, our Father does not hold our sins against us. So if you’re “in Christ,” you’re completely forgiven and no matter what your conscience, or the devil, or a misguided human tells you, the trials we endure are absolutely not punishment!
- He’s also “the God of all comfort!” He knows all of the different types of afflictions and He knows every affliction requires unique comforts. Did you ever feel alone because those around you don’t quite seem to “get” what you’re going through? This never happens with God. He always gets you and your situation – no matter what!
Now to be sure, God uses people to comfort! Our passage goes on to say, “He comforts us, so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” Still, we do have a direct line to the God of all comfort! What an opportunity! So I encourage you to turn to and not away from Him, even when it really hurts! He wants to bring a supernatural grade of comfort tailored just for you. So soak it all up!
*Do you know “The Two Ways to Get to Heaven“?
