Whom do you turn to when you need comfort? The apostle Paul writing to the believers at Corinth in 2 Corinthians 1: 3-4 “Praise 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 have received from God.”
God is the living God. “What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.” 2 Corinthians 2:16
He is God of grace, mercy, and comfort. He is faithful. I sometimes forget that God is the father of Christ and he is our “Abba Father.” Jesus is the image of God and in Hebrews 1:3
The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.”
Jesus gives us victory over sin, he judges, he reconciles, he appoints, motivates, renews, and makes us new.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 2 Corinthians 5:17
Lastly, these verses shares about comfort and compassion. God offers comfort and compassion. We can lay our trouble at the foot of the cross. According to Ryrie Study Bible, in verse 4, troubles, the Greek word is referred 12 times in 2 Corinthians. Two times in verse 4, then in verse 6, 8, 2:4, 4:8, 17, 6:4; 7:4, 5; 8:2, 13. Sometimes God allows us to suffer so that we can comfort others and trust more per Dr, Charles Ryrie. pg 1782 NIV.
A call came in to the home health agency requesting me as the nurse, I arrived at the home, the patient has cancer. I am a highly skilled infusion nurse. They ask me because I am a Christian. Over the next few months we laugh, we pray for healing, he refuses to go on hospice, I offer comfort. I know the lab test show we are losing the battle, he only wants me as his nurse.
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Each one of us has opportunities to offer comfort in times of trouble for family and friends. Usually people do not want advice. They want some one to listen. A person to bring a meal, to give a gift card so they can stop and get needed groceries or gas for their car, someone to mail a greeting card.
Paul suffered many trials as we read in 2 Corinthians 1:8
We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself.
Remember in James 1:2-4, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”
Charles Swindoll said, “Afflictions are not blessings to be clear, but Paul’s word reveal to us two lessons, we are never alone in our sufferings and God gives us the capacity to provide comfort to others.”
My patient passed away with me being his nurse, we always prayed before I did any treatments. We were able to help him cope with the pain from the cancer. To this day, I am so thankful that God gives me the opportunity to comfort others. Anyone that knows me, knows that I am compassionate. Weep with those who weep. Live life Loved.
Beloved, I hope you turn to God when you are hurting. What are some of the things you can do when someone needs comforting? I write verses on index cards and mail them in cards, also I carry the cards in my jacket at work to hand out cards and hope. I will lend you my hope right now if you need it.
Life Lesson: God is good all the time and all the time God is Good. Remember to share your compassion even if you need comfort yourself.
Song. Great is Thy Faithfulness
Father God, I praise you for being my heavenly Father, I praise you for your mercy, grace, and your faithfulness. O how I love you and and your word. I ask that for the those that read this blog that you bless them. I ask you fill them with compassion. Thank you for Dr. Ryrie and Charles Swindoll and their lives of studying and how they witness for you. For those that may have a terminal illness, help them with their pain. For those with depression, renew their emotional well-being, improve their mood, give them hope. fill them up with your love. For those with chronic pain, let them put one foot in front of the other today, help them get out of bed an meet the dead lines they need to meet. Lord renew our love for your word and keep us bringing our thoughts to you before we say or do anything that could offend anyone. Lord if anyone is on the fence about accepting you as your savior please bind Satan and let them admit they are a sinner and ask for forgiveness, and ask you to be a part of their life. We ask of this in your son’s life. Amen
