“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

Over the years, I’ve been a recipient of a lot of consolation.

At first I lost my father and later my beloved stepfather. Then I lost my grandmother who raised me through primary school in Nakaseke.

Then later I lost my beloved mother, who took the five of us through secondary school as a single mother.

Then I lost three of my siblings, including the sister who follows me.

Apart from bereavement, I know the feeling of rejection, betrayal and disappointment. I know what persecution and pain look like.

But I also know of people who have gone through worse pain than me; who are currently going through hell, as it were.

When you listen to their stories, you forget about your own misery and wonder how they can still be able to smile.

If you are like the rest of us, you sometimes feel like asking God, “why me?”

Our meditation today does answer that question: “The God of all comfort does comfort us in our troubles SO THAT we may comfort those in any trouble with the comfort that we receive from God.”

What that means is that the troubles you go serves the purpose of preparing us and equipping us.

It enables you to receive God’s comfort, which you can then use to comfort those who need to be comforted.

Only those who have received God’s comfort while in betrayal, treachery, bereavement, persecution, etc, can be sources of comfort and consolation to those who are facing the same challenges.

In the Bible, God identifies Himself as the God who “will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow” (Jeremiah 31:13).

The psalmist looked to God for “comfort”: “You shall increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side” (Psalm 71:21).

“On every side” denotes the various kinds of sorrow arising from the different situations that we may face from time to time.

Those who have suffered and have been comforted from above are best placed to comfort God’s people in similar trouble.

In the New Testament, Christ, referring to the Holy Spirit, promised to send “another Comforter” (see John 14:16). 

That means that comforting/consoling God’s children is one of the key ministry roles of the Holy Spirit in the Church. 

Also, Christ became the best Intercessor for us because He went through all the suffering that we go through, including losing His foster father, Joseph, at a very young age.

Our Lord Jesus Christ told His disciples; “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you (John 14:18).

The Greek word for ‘comfortless’ is ‘orphanos’ from which we derive our English word ‘orphan’ (fatherless).

Are you going through any form of trouble or sorrow? Fear not, for God has all along been preparing you for the prophetic ministry.

The purpose of the ministry of the prophet is to “edify,” “to comfort,” and to “encourage” the Church (see 1 Cor. 14:3).

Today, our beleaguered world desperately needs the comforting ministry like never before.

God’s comfort does not make us comfortable; rather, it makes us approachable.

Those who have suffered and have been comforted from above are best placed to comfort God’s people in similar trouble.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank you because you are the Father of all comfort. I have been a recipient of Your comfort through the Comforter, the Holy Spirit. Help me to be a channel of comfort and consolation to anyone who needs it. For the glory of your Name, Amen!