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 tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4
These two verses head up a wonderful little passage on suffering and consolation. What I like about it right now is how well it reflects our mindset at LWFC: blessed to be a blessing.
We believe that God’s desire for us is that we prosper and be in health, but Jesus also promised that in this world we would have trouble. But here, we are assured that our heavenly Father comforts us in the middle of it all. I LOVE that He is identified here as “the Father of mercies and God of all comfort”! There is something big about this not just being something He does, but who He is. But notice something about the structure of verse. The first point is that He indeed comforts us in ALL our tribulation, but the main point is that He does this so we can comfort others!
Try to get your head around this, because it’s beautiful; the comfort in tribulation is presented here as a done deal, a foregone conclusion. The emphasis is on reminding us that we have such a wellspring of comfort to draw on in order to comfort “those who are in ANY trouble.”
The challenge before us is once again to be an example to the world. If we are manifestly distressed by all the discomforting things taking place in the world around us, what is going to stand out to the unbeliever? What does trust in God look like to those who do not yet trust in Him? Military history is replete with examples of ordinary men who rose to prominence due to their actions and decisions in moments that caused all around them to panic and lose their heads. The rare soldier, sailor, marine, or airman who, at the crucial moment, remembered his training and acted on it, went down in history as extraordinary, especially if his actions inspired others and brought control to a situation that was out of control.
That really should be us. Things that cause the world to panic, whether they are personal, local, or global phenomena, should drive us to remember the promises on which we stand, rise above the circumstances, and lead others to a place of comfort. When someone asks us (and if we’re doing this right, they will), “how can you be so happy? How can you be unworried?”, we should have an answer. Nothing is more attractive to someone in need than an abundant supply of what they need. That goes for comfort, peace, and joy as much as, or more than, money.
So don’t curse the enveloping darkness. Rejoice in your ability to shine in the midst of it.
Blessings,
