Megan Evans, Women’s Ministry Director LHBC
2 Corinthians 1:3-4
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.
Comfort isn’t just a want, it is a human need. So often however, we settle for less than God’s perfect supply. God, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, wants to love us at a level that no person or thing can meet. Perhaps this is why relying on people, substances, or experiences will only let us down.
God wants to love us with a comfort that is so great that it literally spills over the top and runs out onto others around us–to the point that we can’t help but tell about this great love!
Comfort is such a basic need in life. From the first moments of life, babies need to be held, fed, and kept warm in order to thrive. Children need love and nurturing. Teenagers need to be loved and nurtured. Adults need to be loved and nurtured. Sure, basic care transitions to self the older we get, but our need for love and compassion remains. We will go through hard stuff in life and our heart will hurt from time to time…sometimes greatly. Yet, we can never out suffer the supply of comfort that Jesus lavishes.
Paul knew first-hand about suffering. He knew about crushing and overwhelming circumstances and situations that he wasn’t sure he would make it through. Yet, he also knew that these experiences did not define who he was or who God is. Instead he chose to rely fully on God (2 Corinthians 1:8-9). He speaks of the love and support and prayer of others. This framework of godly friendships and church family is so important because it points us back to our Great Comforter. With God as his true comfort and bottomless fount, Paul would never run dry. In Christ this same strength is ours.
Can you imagine never running out of God’s tender care? Start picturing it now because that is how God wants to love you. His abundant love and strength allows us to worship and praise even in the midst of our pain. Resting in the arms of Jesus we can survive and even thrive in any situation, and then turn and comfort others in theirs.
In times of trouble where do you turn? In this world we can find ourselves worshipping many gods of temporary fixes and distractions instead of eternal fulfillment. Praise be to God that in Christ our need for comfort is not left at the surface, but is met at soul level. Will you let the Father of compassion hold you as you talk with Him in prayer today? Will you open your Bible and let His Word run deep into the corners of your heart and strengthen your frame? If you are hurting today, let yourself be comforted by the God of all comfort.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Father God, your love is perfect and I rest in your arms today. Strengthen my frame and remind me of your truth this day. Point out and help me to turn away from anything of this world that I have used to cope with troubles of this world. I surrender my life to your comfort and care today. In Jesus Name, Amen.
MEMORY VERSE OF THE WEEK:
John 3:16:
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.