“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 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 tribulation, that we may be able to COMFORT THOSE who are in any trouble, with THE COMFORT with which we ourselves ARE COMFORTED by God.” (2 Corin. 1:2-4) ♥parakaleō: encourage and strengthen. It also has the meaning, “together-strength,”
Our God, God our Father, our abba Father is the God of ALL COMFORT. Does this mean that we don’t have to go through any painful situations? NO, it does not mean that as we see in the 23rd Psalm “Yea, THOUGH I WALK THROUGH the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For YOU ARE WITH ME; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” (Psalms 23:4) As we are walking through that death shadowy valley, “thus says the LORD: As one whom his mother comforts, So I WILL COMFORT YOU…” (Isaiah 66:12-13)
As Jesus was preparing to leave He said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you ANOTHER COMFORTER, (the Holy Spirit) so that He may be with you FOREVER…” (John 14:15-16) We are instructed by the Lord to not be afraid of anything or any one because, “I, even I, am He who COMFORTS YOU. Who are you that you should be afraid Of a man who will die, And of the son of a man who will be made like grass?” (Isaiah 51:12)
-Bill Stockham