God’s Ever Present Comfort

Verses
2 Corinthians 1: 3-4  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

Devotion
My Bible study today was on God’s ever present comfort.  And I thought, “Whew, I could really use that!”  I’ll bet all of us could.  We could use a large measure of God’s comfort during this worldwide health scare and the resultant economic problems.  We need to be reassured that He is watching over us.  We need to experience God’s comfort while we mourn for those that are unjustly killed due to racial injustice.  We need His comfort as we work through our own issues to find our own voice on this major problem.  All this and the press of responsibilities of life could make us wonder where He is.

Paul said that God is the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles.  Paul experienced God’s comfort even while being persecuted and eventually imprisoned.  How did he do that?  I think it came from his personal relationship with Jesus.  He spent time with Jesus and sang praises to God.  God listened to him.  We can experience that same relationship and resulting comfort.

Paul goes on to say in 2Cor1:4 “so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.”  Just as God comforts us, we should comfort others.  Just as He loves us, we should love others.  You may know someone who could use some comforting words.  Or even better yet, someone that could use a comforting ear.  Being listened to is one of the most honoring things you can do for someone.  I’m sure you have experienced the relief you get after pouring out your soul to a friend.  You feel heard, validated, comforted.  

I believe that right now is really a time for listening and trying to understand how others are feeling, especially those that are different than us.  For us to do that well, we need to go to God first and receive His comfort so that we can give it away to others.   I hope that you find comfort today in your relationship with Jesus and in our God and Father’s ever present comfort.