I Am Also The Father Who Comforts You In All Your Troubles

April 5

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort.”

A parent does not like to see their child(ren) hurting and in pain.  Parents can recall many times when their children were hurt and the comfort they gave to them.  When my son was just learning to walk, he fell many times.  Sometimes he fell on the soft, padded carpet, and he got right up “no worse for the wear.”  Other times, he fell and would bump his head on the corner of a wall or some other permanent object.  This resulted in tears, and I was quick to scoop him up into my arms to comfort him and tell him it was going to be okay because I was there.  I’d kiss him on his “owie” and hold him until he stopped crying and wanted down.  As a rambunctious boy, he had his share of bumps and bruises, and I would provide the best comfort and assurance I could each time he hurt.  I didn’t like seeing him in pain.

This was similar for my two girls.  The causes of their hurts and pain were often different than my son’s, but I still gave the best comfort and reassurance to them that I could.  Like my son, it negatively affected me to see them in pain or hurting, regardless of what caused it.  As my children grew older, my comfort and reassurance looked different than when they were young children.  But, that didn’t change my hurt for them and desire to “take away the pain” they were experiencing.  I learned that sometimes they just needed “a listening ear” and that I couldn’t fix what was causing the pain.  As a father, I wanted to protect them from all hurt and pain.  However, I knew this was not possible.  I couldn’t shield them from pain and hurt caused by others (or themselves), but I could give them comfort, reassurance, and support when they were experiencing hurt and pain.

Paul opens this second letter to the Corinthians by praising God who gives compassion and comfort to all believers.  Paul has first-hand knowledge of God’s compassion and comfort in his own life, and he is reminding the believers in Corinth of this truth.  We live in a world where pain, suffering, and affliction are real.  But, we have a God who is the Father of compassion and all comfort.  When we walk through trials, God is not distant.  He is with us and comforts us in our affliction.  The beauty here is that we are comforted by God Himself.  We are not alone in our suffering.  We turn to Him, abandoning our strength, and rely on Him and the comfort He gives.  Our gracious and compassionate Father who comforted His Son, Jesus, is the same Father who comforts us in all our affliction.  No one or nothing else gives the comfort our loving, Heavenly Father gives.  What love the Father has for us!