“Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;” 2 Cor 1:3

This is our God, “the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort” How amazing He is.  As He is Creator all these virtues come from Him.   But what does it mean? 

In the next few verses Paul tells us; in verse 4, “Who comforts us in all our tribulation,” Tribulation means troubles and suffering, this isn’t the Tribulation of the Lord, but the affliction and problems we face today. But isn’t this amazing that in all our suffering God is there aiming to comfort and guide us. “That we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”   Now as we’re in Christ, the God of all Comfort, we have a relationship with Him, now through/by Him we will comfort others in their trouble. The same as what Paul says here, we have now been comforted and now we would want to share that comfort.

Then the next section verses 5 -7, “For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation (comfort) also abounds by Christ. And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. And our hope of you is steadfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.”  We can take comfort and encouragement that when we suffer, we can look to the one who has suffered all already. And even more amazing the one who has suffered all, and knows what we are going through, is now wanting to comfort those of His who are suffering, which we can then share on, that through us it might be for other’s benefits. To be partakers of God’s goodness and plan.

This is one passage of comforts (God’s comfort) but as I read this chapter (2Cor1) I thought of Job, who wanted to comfort and encourage his friends in their grief while his own grief couldn’t be changed. (Job 16:4-6, 21:2) But that is just one other example of   comfort, and I don’t want to turn to it, and go into more depth.

Instead, we can turn to Isaiah 51: 3 & 12, to think more about the God of all comfort. This chapter is the Messiah’s encouragement to Israel to keep going, to keep moving on.  “For the LORD shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.” In this verse (verse 3) we see God as Creator and able to renew. Where he changes, “he will make her wilderness like Eden” it parallels to this thought of as we were without hope, despaired in our struggles, The God of all comfort gave us hope, and made us beautiful again, like gold tried in a fiery furnace.  Where we can have joy, gladness, and thanksgiving.

Then verse 12, “I, even I, am he that comforts you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass;” we can see    the encouragement to keep our eyes on the Lord, to fear Him. There is no one else to be afraid of. He is able to deliver, the God of all Comfort, the one that comforts.

Then lastly, I would like to look at 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18, where we are encouraged and comforted to look forward to that day where the Lord will take us onto Himself. And (verse 18) “Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” To continually comfort each other of the future, to look forward to it, and to Christ.