God Comforts the Hurting through Others
Key Verse to Study and Treasure:
The God of all comfort who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God (2 Corinthians 1:4)
Meditation
There are some who seem to have a natural ability to comfort others. It does not take great effort for them, they don’t have to get in a certain frame of mind or heart, they don’t have to put on a new attitude nor take a course in comforting, but for them comforting others comes with ease. They know what to say and when to say it. They don’t sound like a rehearsed Hallmark Greeting card or Bible verse dispenser, but just do what comes naturally. They are the kind of people you want around when you need to be comforted. We lived in Michigan when “Comfort-Keepers” were formed. I can remember seeing their TV ads, driving down the street seeing their billboards or signage, even running errands, and seeing employees of their company. I recognized them by their uniforms and logo. They were hired and trained by a company to perform a particular service to those who wanted to stay in their own home; trained to be comforting and attentive.
Each one of us has potential to become a “comfort-Keeper. We may not know it but we also belong to a great network and are part of a team of comforters. Our training has come by the way of troubles. The way God trains each one of us is unique: when we go through something tough or difficult he comforts us and as we experience God’s comfort we, in turn, are being trained to comfort others in their time of need. When we consider we have all been through something that has made us recipients of God’s comfort then we can know we have what it takes to comfort others.
As you meditate on and treasure today’s passage you might recall people who have been or are being a comfort to you presently. Chances are, they are those who have experienced hard things in their own life and know how to show up for others in their time of need. Maybe they have experienced loss, or unemployment, sickness, or trouble in their marriage. While it’s our inclination to repay people when we get “back on our feet” and our trouble is past we don’t need to repay those who bring comfort in our time of need, just extend that same comfort to someone else when their need for comfort arises.
Praying 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
God, you comfort us in our affliction and we, in turn, can comfort others in theirs. What a wonderful cycle to keep going. what a wonderful way to share you in a practical way with others. Through our own afflictions and troubles shape us into beautiful comforters. Amen
Going Deeper: Additional Verses about Comforting Others
Devotionally Yours 