2 Cor 1:3-5 – “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ”. There is a lot said about suffering here then comfort. We often refer to Holy Spirit as The Comforter. We do not want to suffer but here it is a given. We are useless in providing comfort but we can be a VESSEL to provide what others need in comfort. God does it all for us and through us. I am still surprised when suffering comes my way. If I could hide under the kitchen sink, while it looks for me, I would. Comfort and suffering both have a place in our lives. I’m writing about suffering and comfort but my Bible paragraph heads say comfort IN suffering. Another translation of verse 5 speaks of Christ’s sufferings abounding in us, SO our consolation also abounds through Christ. The connection is subtle. Verse 6 references, “…if we are comforted, IT IS for your consolation AND salvation. Both belong and both lead to salvation. Finally, Verse 11 gives reason to pray for our persecuted brothers, sisters, and missionaries with, “…as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many”. This section also mentions deliverance, that not all suffering will lead to death which is just a conduit from this life to the next. No wonder we have high highs and low lows as predicted. Both suffering and comfort belong everywhere we go in the world today.
