Category: Devotional

At various times in our lives, we all experience affliction; pain, suffering, distress. When this happens to someone around you, you are presented with an opportunity to demonstrate love by reaching out to comfort them. People often comfort others by hugging, listening, being supportive and encouraging. Another way to comfort those afflicted is to reinforce their worth to build confidence and the courage to persevere.

2 Cor 1:3-4 says: Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. The reason we are comforted is worth repeating; so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. This is a life-long assignment. Seize each opportunity to comfort others around you.

Even with our best comforting efforts, the cut on the knee of a child or the trouble causing distress for a friend may not go away instantly. This is also true when God comforts us. This is because healthy relationships matter. If God were to take away all of our pain every time we asked, we may not turn away from the bad behaviors that inhibit our ability love others and to live a peaceful life full of joy. Many of us would simply turn to God for pain relief then continue hurting others.

Hebrews 12:11 says: No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

We are thankful for our all-knowing, loving God who comforts and guides us along our life’s journey. Following His guidance brings joy to our lives and helps us avoid the routes that lead to destruction and discomfort.