2 Corinthians 1:4 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.
God comforts us for a reason. We are strengthened and given peace so that we can strengthen others in their times of difficulty. The word “comfort” is repeated ten times in this opening section. This is the key thought that guides this letter. Paul experienced many afflictions in his ministry. An affliction is something that causes distress and pain. There is no trouble we face that God cannot bring comfort and peace.
God’s work in our lives should fundamentally change who we are. God’s comfort through the Holy Spirit changes our outlook and fills us with all the fruit mentioned in Galatians 5:22-23. As we experience love, joy, peace, and so forth, our own attitudes and behaviors change. We take on the nature of the comforting God and express this by comforting other people. Again, Paul emphasizes that there is no affliction that is beyond the touch and need for comfort.
The comfort we give is not our own, because our efforts will not get far. We are weak and beaten down by our own afflictions, so it is difficult–though no impossible–to bring comfort to others. Love is a fundamental human characteristic granted through God’s prevenient grace. So everyone can love and bring comfort to others. However, if we resource this comfort through God’s presence in our own lives, we will be better able to sustain this comfort in expressions of love. The comfort we gives others actually comes from God. We are instruments and channels of God’s compassion which flows us to others.
As a hospice chaplain, I found myself in the position of needing to provide comfort to people who lost their loved ones. It is not easy to see people grow weak and die. I learned a lot about compassion in this job. First, I saw a difference in the lives of those who were genuine believers in Jesus. Although they missed their loved ones, their faith in eternal life brought peace to them. God brings hope in despair. Second, I saw church families gather around families and offer comforting presence and words. The most difficult situations I saw were when people were all alone in their sorrow. God works through other people to bring comfort to us. Compassion and comfort go together. Compassion provides the motivation to offer comfort to other people. God is the offer of compassion. We experience God’s compassion through grace in salvation and providential care through the blessings that provide us life. As we become more Christlike, we should also find our hearts more full of compassion that will compel us to comfort the hurting and needy around us.
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