The God of All Comfort
7/25/25 Bible Thought (2 Corinthians 1)
No one enjoys the hard times of life.
When we’re undergoing trials of any sort, we are probably all eager to get to the other side. We like blue skies on the horizon and times of peace.
Yet, there are benefits to our faith that can only be grown in the soil of affliction. There are aspects to our relationship with God that will only strengthen in the valley and not on the mountaintop.
The apostle Paul knew this all too well.
In 2 Corinthians, in various places, the apostle will recount some of the trials he faced and at the same time he will magnify the greatness of his God who was greater than all of his problems.
This begins right in chapter one, as Paul recounts how God brought comfort through affliction.
He writes,
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 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).
God is worthy of praise because He is a comforting God. No matter the problem, He has a solution that is sufficient. Even the worst sentence of death is met with the hope of the “God who raises the dead” (2 Cor. 1:9).
Paul recounts a specific grand trial that he faced where he felt they were under the sentence of death (2 Cor. 1:9). So much so, they had, “despaired of life itself” (2 Cor. 1:8). From all available evidence, they were goners—but God.
Yet, even if they had gone through death, Paul was assured that death could not separate the believer from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom. 8:38-39). To depart from this life is better than remaining because then we will be with Christ! (Phil. 1:23). With these great theological truths in place, death is no longer to be feared and any trial shy of death even less so!
Regardless of the intensity of the trial we might be facing, we serve a God of comfort. As David once penned,
“But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head” (Ps. 3:3).
Enemies abounded, but he found encouragement in his faithful God who lifted up his head.
There is no circumstance or disappointment too great for us to remain downtrodden before Him. That is, so long as the affliction drives us to Him.
Sometimes the natural human response to hardship is to be angry at God. To flee from His presence. To ignore Him.
But if we will draw near to Him in the valley, we will find in Him comfort that exceeds all our troubles.
The choice is ours.
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Such an encouraging truth! The Good Shepherd leads His sheep through the valley. He's right there; we never walk through anything alone. If we turn to Him, we will find Him right beside us, and us held in His hands.