Struggles are a part of life. We all endure them from time to time. Some struggles are obviously more severe than others. I love the promise in this passage in 2 Corinthians. Paul, who had more than his share of struggles, praises God for being the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort. He proclaims that God comforts in all our troubles with His own personal comfort. In other words, God is always there personally bringing us comfort.
But God also has a purpose behind His comfort. He comforts us personally so that we can comfort others with the same comfort we have received from God. God is concerned deeply about each and everyone of our needs no matter how great or small. Jesus said that God has the very hairs on our head numbered. If God knows when a sparrow falls, why wouldn't He be involved in our lives. God is always there and willing to extend His comfort. But sometimes I'm not paying attention to God's comfort.
If God is so concerned about the issues and needs of all us, as a follow of Christ, then I should be my concern too. God expects me to bring comfort to others who are struggling. The comfort that God brings to us in our time of suffering gives us the ability, knowledge, insights into bringing comfort to others, especially those who suffer from a similar plight as ours. Having been through the ups and downs, ins and outs, trenches of spiritual, emotional, physical, relational warfare, we can lend a hand to others that brings true understanding, encouragement and comfort to them.
God is able to use all of our experiences in life, even the painful disasters to minister to someone else. He never lets those experiences go to waste. What I've found is that I receive even greater healing when I extend myself to others to comfort them in their time of personal struggle. I have a greater assurance of God's presence in my own life. If I were to sit around and wallow in my own grief and struggles, the comfort that God brings to me is of little value or help. I only grow deeper in my depression and pain. But when I take even the smallest amount of comfort I've received and pass it on to someone else, my comfort gets multiplied and I have greater strength to endure.
God, I can't say that I'm thankful for my struggles and pain in life. But I am thankful for your constant presence and comfort. It'd be easy for me to just sit in my corner and pout and cry and whine. To be honest, Lord, I'd really prefer to do that, but I know that only pushes me deeper into my own suffering and makes life even darker. Help me to pass on to others what I have received. Help me be a comfort to others.
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