Word of Encouragement (5/26/2020)
When going through a difficult time, it is hard to think of anything other than how we can get out of it as soon as possible or how we can get through it another day without losing our mind. It’s hard to get our mind off what is going on at the moment—the pain we are feeling, what needs to be done to get some relief, etc. Even when we manage to direct our thoughts to God, all we can ask is, “Why me? Why are you allowing this happen to me? Do you not love me?”
Often, those questions seem to go unanswered, only met with a deafening silence. But that is because God has already answered them in His Word:
“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” (2 Cor. 1:3-4).
According to these words, afflictions in this world are a given. We suffer for many reasons: sometimes, because of our own sins and failures; at other times, because of others’ sins and failures; and at still other times, because of God’s mysterious but good purpose for our lives. Sufferings are inevitable in this fallen world even for God’s people. Sufferings will be done away with only when we get to heaven.
In the meantime, what does God do for His beloved people? While He doesn’t promise us that we will not suffer (because sufferings cannot be avoided in this life), He promises His comfort in the midst of our afflictions. So, Paul blesses God as “the Father of mercies and God of all comfort.” Notice how he uses the plural—“the Father of mercies.” He has for His people many mercies, different kinds of mercies, many-fold, multi-faceted, multi-dimensional mercies. And what is the source of these mercies? He is the Father of mercies. It is the kind of mercies that a father has for his dear children—except that this Father is the sovereign Lord of heaven and earth, almighty and all-wise and all-loving.
He is also “the God of all comfort.” What He is able to offer to His people is not just "some" comfort—not just this comfort but not that comfort, not just at this time but not at another times, not just in this situation but not in another situation, not just for this problem but not for another problem. He is the God of all comfort—at all times, in all places, for all kinds of problems, wherever we may be. And He is the God of all comfort. He is able to comfort us with His almighty power and wisdom and joy and peace.
One reason for your suffering is for you to experience and know more deeply this Father of mercies and God of all comfort. May God reveal Himself to you as the Father of mercies and God of all comfort wherever you are and whatever you may be going through. And if God can be all these things to us, remember it is only because He is "the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."