Comfort

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 Cor 1:3-5 NKJV

I was reminded of the words of this verse recently by a very good friend. There are times we all want some kind of comfort, and in Christ we have that comfort and as much as we need. In truth, human comfort will help, but it doesn’t usually fill our needs, however the comfort which comes from a firm faith in Jesus Christ, always does. We can entertain the tendency to have a pity party, which can go on for a long time, but these kinds of parties are usually lonely things, and our normal friends don’t want to join our party.

So what makes the difference in the life of a Christian? Undoubtedly it is in the selfless act of being there when needed, yes to comfort, but even more importantly is the true friend’s reminder that because we have experienced God’s comfort, so now we can tell others that we care about that the best way to receive comfort is to give that comfort away to others who also need the reminder of God’s unfailing love. It’s a circle of love. God’s love.

It’s a lesson that we don’t want to hear when we are having that pity party, is it, but essential advice nonetheless? Comfort is a bit like love. We enjoy more of it only when we give it away to others in Jesus name. What kind of person would come up with that kind of advice? Probably someone who has been where you are themselves, knows how you feel, but is a friend. A good friend, maybe a best friend, who knows they can speak the truth in love, and these kinds of friends are in short supply and special.  

I will finish with part of a famous prayer by St Francis of Assisi:

O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive.
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.
Amen.