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 tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).
This is an ever-present comfort the Father Himself gives to His children. The apostle Paul expresses adoration and praise to God the Father for His mercies and encouragement with which we are constantly being encouraged. He says the Father sends encouragement to us in all our tribulation. We will never encounter difficulty without the Father’s presence. Perhaps this is why the apostle says in Romans 5:3-5, “[…] but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”
“[…] we glory in tribulations […],” what a statement! We exude God’s glory at a time when the world thinks it is impossible to do so. When others show despair, we show His glory and are never disappointed by the hope He gives to us.
Paul shows us that because of the grace and mercies of God, even in the midst of difficulties, they are producing in us His own perseverance (stamina, endurance), character, and hope. We then take these godly attributes that are His comfort and share them with those who are in any trouble. We comfort others with the comfort with which we, ourselves, are comforted by what comes from God.
In 2 Corinthians 1:5, Paul says, “for as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.” As Christians, we will suffer, but we have strong consolation through Jesus Christ. This consolation is abundant toward us. God is intimately involved in every detail of our lives, and He has not lost sight of us. Even though we might feel inundated by worries or concerns, He is there to deliver us. We all have at one time or the other felt overwhelmed, but we know His mercies keep us from being consumed and His compassions never fail. Jeremiah declares, “through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23). His faithfulness is not based on our faithfulness, but on His eternal love for us. He will be with us in trouble. Thanks be to God who gives us His victory!