“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of ALL COMFORT (paraklēsis: an advocate or helper who should appeal on our behalf.) He comforts us in all our troubles so that WE CAN COMFORT OTHERS. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will SHOWER US WITH HIS COMFORT through Christ.” (2 Corin. 1:3-5) Suffering is not something that anyone looks forward to. It’s also something that people struggle with when it’s happening. Paul knew how to suffer. 2 Corin. 12, lists all the hard times he endured while preaching the Gospel. Sometimes the difficulties we face have nothing to do with what we have done but because of WHO WE FOLLOW. There are those who oppose everything to do with Jesus. He told us that we would suffer BECAUSE OF HIS NAME. He said that people would hate us because of who He is, but not to worry because He has OVERCOME THE WORLD.
When we are in need of comfort ETHAN AND KATIE, we need to find the “right” person to comfort us, the best person to comfort someone who has lost a loved one is someone else who has been down that road and has relied on God to fill their relational void. The best person to comfort someone dealing with depression is someone who has walked that path and found comfort in Christ. The best person to console someone with money problems is someone who has been broke and seen God provide. “Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly COMFORT YOU. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer. We are confident that as you share in our sufferings, you will also SHARE IN THE COMFORT GOD GIVES US.” (2 Corin. 1:6-7)
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