Verse: 2 Corinthians 1:3-7
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 5 For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. 6 If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. 7 And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.
Thoughts
Do you need to be comforted today? Maybe this week got started on the wrong foot. Monday was a bad day. And you are waking up feeling like today could be worse. Maybe you just woke up in one of those funks, where everything feels a little dark and depressing.
Or maybe it's a more long term thing. Maybe you are going through a season of grief. Or you are struggling with a physical/health issue that won't go away.
Whatever it is, I think it's hard at times to conceptualize God as someone who will comfort us. Especially if our picture of God is of one who is distant or mainly concerned with us "being good" or performing for him.
But read this verse and let it wash over you: He is the "the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles." Can you hear that over your life today? He is the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort. This is who he is! And he wants to comfort you in all of your troubles!
Today, will you let the God of all comfort, comfort you? Will you lean into his grace and his love? What does it mean for God to comfort you? How can you receive his strength in this time of pain? How can you go to him with your honest emotions?
What I know, and what Scripture teaches us here, is that he cares about every single part of our lives. He cares about the big and the little things. And he is near to us in our pain.
Spend some time with him, and allow him to show you what it means for him to comfort you. Like I said, it's hard to conceptualize, but that shouldn't keep us from receiving this amazing gift.
Prayer
I need you today, God. I pray that you would draw near to me. Comfort me in my pain, and strengthen me in my weakness.