Comfort

2 Corinthians: 1 3-7 " All praise to God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all our Comfort.4 He comforts us in all our trouble so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. 5 The more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with the comfort, through Christ. 6 Even when we are weighed down with troubles. It is your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer. 7 We are confident that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in the comfort, that God gives us."
So, basically , God comforts us. Why? He Loves us? Yes, We are His Children and He does not want us to suffer? Yes. So that we can have a easy life down here o Earth and then get into Heaven? No. It is not about an "Easy Life" it is about conquering "Self". But what happens when you are going through a hard trial, and God comes along and comforts you. Maybe a certain scripture shows up allot, Your Pastor preaches a sermon based on a scripture, then you hear the DJ on the Christian radio channel quote that same scripture, then you spouse tell you that they were reading the bible and this scripture just jumped out at them....Coincidence? I think not. God is trying to comfort you through His word.
Now get ready for this. God comforting us, is two fold: It helps us as we go through the trials and problems of this world, but it also strengthens us, so that when we run into someone who is dealing with similar problems, hey we have been down that road, we can comfort them. If your addicted to something, whither it be alcohol, drugs, porn, sex, TV, prescription drugs, whatever,who best to talk to then someone who has the same problem? By comforting someone, it comforts you, and gives you strength to go forward. But first we have to be comforted.
How are we comforted? The same way, someone sent of God comes along and helps us, usually someone who know exactly how we are feeling. How do they know how we feel? They have been there, exactly right were you are. They struggle also with this affliction, as Paul called it. I am so glad that Paul never told us what affliction he suffered, because we can in our minds, put our affliction in the blank. I have, and still do, suffer from "wrong Thinking, sexual pornography, and all that goes with that. Who else to talk to but someone who has suffered from the same things, and together we can lift each other up, and be "Accountability Partners" keeping each other in line.
The scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 has always been one of my favorites. But I never really thought about the "comforting one another, as we are comforted" part. I always just heard the "He will comfort me,." Part. God never does anything just for one reason. There is always multiple reasons. What happens after God has moved in our lives and comforted us? We go along in life closer to Him, and happier in our new found trust, faith, life. Then God sends someone along that we share with, and he/she is blessed and start trusting and sharing with others that are having the same problems. This has a domino effect, and soon we have a group, that can meet together and lift each other up and share our experiences together. Both good and bad, both success and when we fail. Because you see, by talking about our failures and successes we break down the walls of shame, guilt, and secrecy.
Paul told us (the Church) to build each other up, to forgive one another, and to Band together, because two cords were harder to break then one. Comfort one another, in love. Don't judge, because you seem to think someone is wrong, what about that "Log in your eye?"
Comfort, God has it, we need it, we share it, He is Praised. So go out and be comforted, and comfort those you see in your everyday walk. You'll never know how much that it will help, both you and others. In love, Chris