God Comforts Us
Recently I had the opportunity to comfort another woman who was going through an unexpected trial filled with grief. As sorrow-filled words came tumbling out of her mouth I wondered how I might comfort her, especially since I had not experienced this particular kind of suffering. But by the end of the conversation it was clear that it didn’t matter. I was able to comfort her simply because I was a fellow saint and sufferer who had experienced God’s comfort in my own suffering. This is what the Bible teaches us: “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” (2 Cor. 1:3-4). Since all of us suffer, and all of us have the opportunity to comfort others in their suffering, let’s take a closer look at what it means for believers to comfort one another.
The God of All Comfort
Unlike comfort food, which fails to ultimately satisfy, God’s comfort is inexhaustible and truly satisfying. Significantly, the promise of His comfort is rooted in His covenant love for His people. The prophet Isaiah declares that God’s comfort will be poured out on His people during the intermediate age, between Christ’s first and second coming (Isa. 40-66). The New Testament reveals that this comfort came at a great cost. God sent His own Son to die on the cross in order to accomplish the redemption of His people. As He endured the wrath that you and I deserved, Christ received no comfort from His Father, so that you and I might experience God’s comfort. On this side of glory we will still face affliction. However, as those united to Christ we can affectionately call God our heavenly Father and experience His comfort in our affliction.
Comforting One Another
Our suffering not only draws us closer to God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, it also draws us closer to other believers. God uses our affliction to comfort others. Suffering on this side of glory is not a possibility, but a certainty. Instead of filling us with anxiety and fear, this truth should give us hope that the God of all comfort will comfort us in every trial. One of the primary ways He does this is through the comfort of other believers. This is one reason why it’s important to let your church family know that you’re suffering. You and I must ground our hope in God’s power and purposes. We don’t know the afflictions we will face this year, but we know there will be many, some big and some small. Before they come into our lives, let us be tightly united to the covenant God and His covenant people. United in Christ we walk through trials together with the hope that God’s power will carry us through, even if that means our own death or the death of a loved one.
Caring for One Another
Our union with Christ means we are also in communion with other believers. Therefore, we have the responsibility to care for one another. One of the ways we help care for others is to pray for them, “You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many” (2 Cor. 1:11). Prayer is particularly important when our brothers and sisters are enduring suffering. Certainly I can recall different seasons of suffering and testify that God used the prayers of the saints to uphold me through great difficulty.
To pray for one another is not just a responsibility, it is also a privilege. When we allow others to get to know us so that they know how to pray for us, and when we get to know others so that we can know how we can pray for them, it’s a blessing. Sadly, many people don’t prioritize prayer. We need to remember that prayer is a privilege. To approach the God of all comfort, asking Him to comfort and uphold our brothers and sisters in need, is a wonderful way to serve one another. Not only that, the prayers of God’s people result in thanksgiving for what God has accomplished in the lives of His people through the prayers of His people.
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You will likely have the opportunity to comfort another believer this week who is experiencing suffering. Regardless of whether or not you have experienced their particular trial, you can comfort them as a fellow saint and sufferer who has experienced God’s comfort in your own suffering. Care for them by praying for their situation. Most importantly, point them to “the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort” (2 Cor. 1:3-4).
Sarah Ivill (ThM, Dallas Theological Seminary) is a Reformed author, wife, homeschooling mom, Bible study teacher, and conference speaker who lives in Matthews, North Carolina, and is a member of Christ Covenant Church (PCA). To learn more, please visit www.sarahivill.com.
