L. C. FOX-SMITH - 29/08/25 - Today I looked deeper into 2 Corinthians, focusing on 1:4:
2Co 1:4 "Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God."
Paul says that when we suffer, God is the one who comforts us. That comfort gives us the strength and encouragement we need to endure. But that comfort doesn’t just stop with us. It’s meant to flow through us, and when we’ve been comforted, we’re then able to comfort others with the same comfort we’ve received.
I’ve been thinking about how that plays out practically. How does God provide that comfort and how can we experience it? Comfort comes from prayer, and in God’s answers to prayer. I’m comforted when I read the Bible and reflect on His word. Comfort also comes through people who have been comforted and experienced that strength and encouragement before. Now, those people live differently because of what they experienced, and they want others to feel the comfort they felt. In that way, God’s comfort spreads through us all.
I’ve been inwardly focussed on how the comfort of the Lord can help me, but I think I missed the point. Today I realised that the seven traits given to us by Peter (2Peter 1:3-8) are outwardly facing. Our self-control, patience, love, Godliness, knowledge, brotherly love, and moral excellence aren’t just for us, they’re for the benefit of those around us. If we are actively trying to pursue a high standard in these areas, we should feel compelled to pass the comfort we receive on to others.
We don’t have to suffer to receive the gift of comfort, but the comfort is waiting for us when we do suffer. And the more we suffer, the more comfort is available. It’s abundant and overflowing. It’s a gift that’s meant to be shared and passed on.
Comfort draws us closer to God and it makes us ready and wanting to walk alongside others in their struggles, passing on the same comfort He gave us. That in itself is another comforter, because when we comfort others - and see the Lord at work in them - we become comforted, too. What a process!