FOR YOUR 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 (II Corinthians 1:3-5).

And I will pray the Father, and he will give you another Counselor (Comforter in KJV) to be with you for ever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor know him; you know him, for he dwells with you, and will be in you (John 14:16-17).

In my daily Bible reading I just started the book of second Corinthians today.  I had underlined verses 3-5 of chapter one from previous readings so they drew my attention again.  I stopped and thought of the times when it seemed as if I was all alone--that no one cared enough to even make an attempt to understand.  There have been several times in my life when that was the case, BUT, this experience is not unique to me.  Further reading in second Corinthians one Paul says that he and his companions were "unbearably crushed that we despaired of life itself" (vs 8).

God has sent the Holy Spirit to be the comforter of Christians, the one who walks along side of us.  How does he bring us comfort?  Sometimes it is just the feeling of reassurance of grace and peace in the middle of trials and tumult.  Sometimes it is through the words of hope in the Scripture when all evidence seems to be to the contrary--hope truly is an audacious thing!  Sometimes it is the arm of another believer around your shoulder, the Holy Spirit with skin on, one who isn't afraid to come into understanding distance and share his/her faith and life experience.  As you receive comfort, share it with someone else.

Our Father's Blessings,
Tom