God of all Comfort

As we begin the Advent season, I'm going to start to focus more on what it means that heaven came near in the person of Jesus. Lately I've been needing his comfort, and it reminded me of the reality that I have the Holy Spirit inside me! That was made possible through the coming of Jesus. The promise of the Messiah was a comfort for the Jews in the Old Testament, but we have comfort in the gospel of Jesus Christ! We have eternity to look forward to. God is a god of comfort!

Paul and Timothy were facing great uncertainty and possibly death when Paul wrote these words to the church in Corinth:

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the 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 receive from God.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NIV

The word for comfort used here is from the Greek word paraklesis, which means strengthening or helping. That's the kind of comfort I need right now. My family recently experienced the loss of my great grandma. She was an incredibly godly, strong woman and her passing has caused me to examine my own life closer and wonder what God wants me to do with my life. God doesn't promise he'll lay out a 5-year plan for us (in fact, it's almost a guarantee that he won't), but he does promise to be with us, and He is in control of every life circumstance. God being our comfort means we will have the strength we need to do what he's calling us to do each day, whether or not we feel like it.

Lately, I haven't felt like going to work. The craziness of the holidays and the darkness of winter is making me want to stay home in my pajamas and bake bread. But I know that for this season, God has me working. So, I want to let go of my own anxieties and throw them at the foot of the cross. Jesus came so that we can be with God. And we are so blessed that we can have a taste of that here on earth through His word and the Holy Spirit comforting us.

Notice at the end of the passage it says, "so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive." In my experience, when I focus on myself being comforted, it doesn't "work." I pray, God, bring me comfort... any day now..." but I seem to find things to make me anxious mere hours (sometimes minutes) after passionate prayer and Bible reading. So how can I remember to accept God's comfort throughout my day?

I can turn to God for strength, and then, with that strength, I can go to others and be a blessing to them as well. Everyone needs a boost of encouragement. We can bless other believers, and we can be a witness to those who don't know God! Bringing glory to God is probably the most satisfying way to take the spotlight off of yourself and point it up to God. And guess what? When the focus is on God, you will remember to look to Him when you need comfort of your own!

Lord, I don't know what to do, but my eyes are on you. You are my comforter in every situation in my life. You didn't die just for everyone else, but you died for me too, so I get to draw near to you today. Thank you for giving me comfort so that I can let go of my own selfish anxieties and cling to you as my source of hope. Thank you for strengthening me to bring comfort to others and serve your people. Amen.

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Enduring word bible commentary 2 corinthians Chapter 1. Enduring Word. (2023, July 13). https://enduringword.com/bible-

commentary/2-corinthians-1/