Have you ever gone through a tough season and had a friend or family member offer a listening ear, a shoulder to cry on, or a comforting word? How did it make you feel? Did you feel less alone, less burdened, and more hopeful? If so, then you’ve experienced the power of God's comfort through their actions.
In 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, Paul tells us that our God is “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.” There are two profound truths in this verse. The first truth is about who God is. The second truth is about what He does.
First, we learn that God is the God of all comfort. He isn’t a God of condemnation but one of comfort. Most people associate “comfort” with emotional relief and a sense of well-being, physical ease, satisfaction, and freedom from pain and anxiety. But the Greek word for comfort is paraklēsis, and it means “an exhortation, admonition or encouragement for the purpose of strengthening and establishing the believer in the faith.”
The big idea here is that God’s comfort doesn’t make our problems easier. His comfort makes us stronger!
Second, because He is the God of ALL comfort, He comforts us in ALL our troubles. Did you catch that? You and I can be assured that no matter what trials we may be going through or whatever challenges we may face in the future, God will always be there to give us the strength we need to get through it! Not only that, but we will be able to strengthen the faith of others who go through any kind of trial.
The big idea here is that God doesn’t comfort us to make us comfortable but to make us comforting!
So, let us be both recipients and distributors of God’s comfort today.
In 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, Paul tells us that our God is “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.” There are two profound truths in this verse. The first truth is about who God is. The second truth is about what He does.
First, we learn that God is the God of all comfort. He isn’t a God of condemnation but one of comfort. Most people associate “comfort” with emotional relief and a sense of well-being, physical ease, satisfaction, and freedom from pain and anxiety. But the Greek word for comfort is paraklēsis, and it means “an exhortation, admonition or encouragement for the purpose of strengthening and establishing the believer in the faith.”
The big idea here is that God’s comfort doesn’t make our problems easier. His comfort makes us stronger!
Second, because He is the God of ALL comfort, He comforts us in ALL our troubles. Did you catch that? You and I can be assured that no matter what trials we may be going through or whatever challenges we may face in the future, God will always be there to give us the strength we need to get through it! Not only that, but we will be able to strengthen the faith of others who go through any kind of trial.
The big idea here is that God doesn’t comfort us to make us comfortable but to make us comforting!
So, let us be both recipients and distributors of God’s comfort today.
Posted in devo