MY GOD OF ALL COMFORT

AND GRACE

When we are in a season of pain which seems to never end, where do we turn?  The pain seems to go on and on, day after day.  It seems like a dark cloud of trial hangs over our heads.  I am so thankful, for my God is the God of All Comfort.  I often wonder how people, without the Lord, go through these hard times.  They have no hope and no one who can bring comfort and peace like our God.

“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

He is the God who comforts in all our tribulations and trials. Paul knew about God’s comfort and was bringing that comfort to the church in Corinth.  Paul went through great trials and persecutions, but he knew to draw strength from His God.

“Comfort, yes, comfort My people!” says your God. Isaiah 40:1

If your life seems to be falling apart ask God to comfort you.  How does God comfort His people?  His comfort simply means receiving strength, encouragement and the hope and the will go on and deal with our troubles.

Sometimes the pain may be so overwhelming that we need the strength just to put one foot in front of the other.  Sometimes the only comfort we have in the knowing that someday we will be home with the Lord and there will be no more pain, tears, or sorrow.  Praise the Lord!  Meanwhile find comfort in His Word, in prayer, drawing on His Wonderful Presence, and fellowship with other believers.  We cannot go through these things alone, we need the strength of our fellow brothers and sisters in the Lord.

We also notice in these verses, that when we go through great trials and afflictions, we are then able to comfort others in the same or similar circumstances.

God sometimes allows us to go through these things so we can “feel their pain.”  If we have been there, have “walked in their shoes,” God will use His great gift of mercy in your life to minister comfort to others.  As an example:  I am a cancer survivor.  I have faced the pain of chemotherapy and after effects.  Because of that experience, I have great empathy for others going through cancer and treatments. 

So whatever your pain or circumstance, look around you.  God may use you to bring His comfort to someone else.  How would we ever be able to understand another person’s pain if we had not been there ourselves?

“Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.  And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness.”  Therefore most gladly I would rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

 2 Corinthians 12:8-9

As we go through these great trials, we look to God for our comfort and that He does.  But sometimes we continue to struggle despite much prayer and petitioning the Lord for healing and a way out of our pain.

In this passage, Paul asked the Lord three times to heal him of his suffering and he did not receive it.  However, he received much grace from God, humility, stronger character and the ability to empathize with others.

So it is with us as we walk with the Lord.  We receive God’s comfort, His grace, no matter how our bodies may feel.  We may be healed.  God is still the Great Physician.  Our Lord may just allow us to depend on His grace, His unmerited favor.

“Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.  For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord”  Romans 8:37-39.

This passage reaffirms God’s love for His people.  No matter what happens in our lives, or where we are, or what trials we are going through, we can never be separated from God’s love.  Our suffering and pain should not drive us away from His loving arms, but allow His perfect will to be done in us.

Then we will be able to rest in His love, depend on His grace and go out and bring that love to others who are suffering.  Then God will cause us to grow stronger in Him and in our daily walk with Him.  And so whatever the circumstances of this day, God’s love and comfort never fails!  Praise the Lord!

Blessings,

Pastor Sharon