Word of Encouragement (5/28/2020)
In our reflection on suffering based on 2 Cor. 1:3-4, we observed two things: 1) God allows afflictions in our lives so we can come to know more deeply “the Father of mercies and God of all comfort”; 2) if we can know God in that way, it is only because God is “the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Today, let’s talk about another reason for our suffering:
“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, whatever affliction we may be going through is not the end. God intends for us to experience the all-soothing comfort of God. Thomas Moore said, “Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal.” There is indeed no affliction we suffer in this life that the Father of mercies and God of all comfort cannot relieve.
But even the comfort we receive from God is not the end. God intends for us to comfort others by testifying to the comfort God has given us. We will not lack opportunities to do so in this fallen world, where, unfortunately, suffering abounds. God wants us to be more than what we want to be or what we think we can be. We may be happy, just experiencing His amazing comfort. But God doesn’t want us to be just passive recipients and beneficiaries of His comfort; He wants us to be His active instruments of comfort to our fellow saints. “There is no trash can in heaven,” indeed! Even our afflictions are not wasted. They humble us and make us more empathetic to the suffering of others. Who reaches out to a cancer patient more willingly and naturally and quickly than a cancer survivor? No one is more understanding and helpful than someone who went through cancer and it's grueling therapies. So it is with other afflictions.
What an amazing joy and privilege it is to see our past experience of suffering being used by God to bring encouragement and comfort to those who are going through it in the present! How humbling it is to be used by God in such a powerful and meaningful way! Paul knew a thing or two about suffering. But he also knew what God was able to do with his sufferings. That certainly helped him to persevere when new sufferings that came his way.
Brothers and sisters, let us learn to rejoice even in our suffering! We have the assurance that God’s comfort is available to us, and will always be, because Jesus took our place and died on the cross without receiving any comfort, even from His heavenly Father. In doing so, He took away the curse of our sin and the wrath of God. God’s disposition toward us is mercy and comfort, love and grace. Oh, how blessed we are! Let us not forget this and endure whatever suffering we may face in this life, looking to the Father of mercies and God of all comfort! And we'll marvel at the way God uses our sufferings to comfort others and multiply our joy!