God’s Comfort

Paul warned believers that “all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Timothy 3:12). Jesus also alerted His disciples that, “In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). As part of His warning, Jesus added an element of comfort. Jesus assured them that He had overcome the world that subjected them to tribulation and persecution.

God is the source of all comfort in our lives “I, even I, am He who comforts you” (Isaiah 51:12). Comfort comes knowing that as we face the difficulties of life, that “God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).

“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 will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). Affliction is something for which He provides comfort. Affliction also teaches us how to bring God’s comfort to others when they face the same challenges.

We become recipients of God’s ultimate comfort by mourning. Salvation is God’s ultimate comfort. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” (Matthew 5:4). When we mourn over our sins and our rejection of God - as evidenced by repentance, then God responds with forgiveness and salvation.

We can experience God’s comfort each day by studying the scriptures. David wrote “This is my comfort in my affliction, that Your word has revived me… I have remembered Your ordinances from of old, O YEHOVAH and comfort myself.” (Psalm 119:50, 52).

Paul tells us that the scriptures were written “for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement/comfort of the Scriptures we might have hope” (Romans 15:4). Likewise, when the scriptures are taught it is “for edification and exhortation and consolation/comfort” (1 Corinthians 14:3).

The comfort we receive by our salvation, our instruction in the word and our overcoming of affliction and persecution, is meant to be shared with our brethren. We are instructed to “encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called ‘Today,’ so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin” (Hebrews 3:13).

Also, “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near” (Hebrews 10:23-25).

“Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word” (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17).