Articles
God of All Comfort 2Cor. 1
God of All Comfort
"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 affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer" (2 Corinthians 1:3–6).
God is the God of All comfort. Affliction and tribulation produce the desire to be comforted. God knows and God cares AND God in his mercy comforts us. He doesn't always remove the tribulation or affliction, but rather comforts us IN such.
The Greek word translated comfort is an interesting word. In its various grammatical forms in 2 Corinthians it is translated "exhort, appeal, urge, encourage, entreat, and comfort". God's comfort is more than sappy sentimentalism, it builds ups, strengthens, encourages, and exhorts. Thus God helps us IN our affliction to be able to endure and persevere.
God's comfort for us is not only to increase our perseverance but also to prepare us and to cause us to be able to help others in their affliction. Paul says: "SO THAT we may be able to comfort those who are in affliction." God would thus be working but working THROUGH us to comfort them. He does this SO THAT they could yet comfort others. And so it goes.
As an example, look at 2Cor. 7:5-7. Paul came into Macedonia and was afflicted at every turn. God knew and God responded because God "comforts the downcast". What did God do? He provided that Titus would arrive and Paul would be comforted. Before Titus came though, he was comforted by the Corinthians. Again we see God comforting through people so that they can comfort others.
Have you found such comfort? Are you available and prepared to be used of God to comfort others? As Paul ended this letter he wrote: "Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you." (2 Corinthians 13:11). Hugh DeLong
