3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4who 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)
Thoughts: Jesus called the Holy Spirit the "Comforter" (parakletos). Literally, "The one who comes alongside to help." We know that Jesus came alongside to help us-- that is the hope of the incarnation of Christ. But here we see that the Father is the Father of compassion. He is caring and sympathetic. In fact, the claim is that all true comfort comes from Him. The comfort of God is the healing that goes beyond what any medicine, salve, exercise, or doctor can give. It is the comfort that goes down to the soul. Jesus once said, "Come to me you who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest for your soul." The healing of Jesus came from within. So he tells the man who is lame (Mt. 9), before he is enabled to walk, "Your sins are forgiven." God comforts us when no one else can.
One of the great reasons God comforts us- is not just that we should be comfortable. He comforts us so we may comfort others. The person who has had cancer and has been helped by God, can help others with the help they have received from God.
Prayer: Lord, give me grace to see your comforting hand that I might comfort others.
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