The God of All Comfort
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort... (2 Corinthians 1:3) If you need comfort, it’s important to go to the right source. Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. (John 16:7, ESV) But I tell you the truth; it is better for you that I go away, for if I may not go away, the Comforter will not come unto you, and if I go on, I will send Him unto you. (John 16:7, YLT) As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you. (Isaiah 66:13) The word comfort, as a verb, means “to make feel better.” Sources of comfort. If God offers us comfort, it suggests that we need some measure of comfort from something. “It is easy for us when we are happy and do not need comforting, to believe that our God is the ‘God of all comfort,’ but as soon as we are in trouble and need it, it seems impossible to believe that there can be any comfort for us anywhere. It would almost seem as if, in our reading of the Bible, we had reversed its meaning, and made it say, not ‘Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted,’ but ‘Blessed are they that rejoice, for they, and they only, shall be comforted.’ [Hannah Whitall Smith, The God of All Comfort.] Dr. John Henry Jowett: “You seem to imagine that I have no ups and no downs, but just a level and lofty stretch of spiritual attainment with unbroken joy and equanimity - but by no means is this the case! I am so often perfectly wretched, and everything appears most murky much of the time.” Charles Spurgeon: “I am the subject of depressions of spirit so fearful that I hope none of you ever get to such extremes of wretchedness as I go to.”
The Apostle Paul: “For we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself.” (2 Corinthians 1:8) God comforts us from at least 4 different things: loneliness afflictions and trials fears – specifically fear of the future sinfulness 1. LONELINESS And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you. (Psalm 9:10) The Holy Spirit is called the parakletos — “comforter.” You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. (Psalm 139:5, ESV) I look behind me and you’re there, then up ahead and you’re there, too—your reassuring presence, coming and going. (Psalm 139:5, MSG) Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. (Matthew 11:28-29) 2. AFFLICTIONS AND TRIALS The Thirty Years’ War was one of the longest and most destructive conflicts in human history. Rev. Martin Rinkart—40 funerals in a day. Now thank we all our God, with heart, and hand, and voices. Who wondrous things hath done, in whom His world rejoices; who from our mothers’ arms has blessed us on our way with countless gifts of love, and still is ours today.
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And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28) 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 affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. (2 Corinthians 1:3-5) “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) 3. FEARS—specifically fear of the future The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. (Psalm 23) When Moses asked God His name, the Lord said, “I Am.” I am your comfort. Whatever you need, He will be that for you. By day the Lord commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me... (Psalm 42:8) God is already there, in the future. 4. SINFULNESS Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned... (Isaiah 40:1-2) He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. (Psalm 103:10-13) There may be times when you find the convicting power of the Holy Spirit to be unsettling, but God is not out to get you.
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:1-2) For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:15-16) No eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him… (1 Corinthians 2:9) He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young. (Isaiah 40:11) Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10) A bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench… (Isaiah 42:3) “Has the kingdom of God been overadvertised, or is it only that it has been underbelieved; has the Lord Jesus Christ been overestimated, or has He only been undertrusted?” [Hannah Whitall Smith, The God of All Comfort.] Promise after promise says that He is with us. He has said that He won’t leave us or forsake us. He’s for us, not against us. He loves us. How do we not trust the comfort of a God like that?
