Comfort comes when it is needed. Our Father sees to that! In 2 Corinthians 1:1-11 Paul states that Our Father is the God of all comfort and that He comforts us in all of our affliction. (vs 3,4) He has all the comfort we need for all afflictions.
It occurred to me that we would never experience the comfort of God apart from afflictions that He allows to come. The scripture seems to suggest that flowing parallel with the hard things we face, there is also a river of comfort that is unending and readily available. That is so good to know. All of life will have its difficulties and parallel with it is an abundance or grace to carry us through. But that's not all....
Paul goes on to say that the affliction that he went through and the cooresponding comfort that he received in it, is what equipped him to be able to minister effectively to others. Verse 4 states: "...Who comforts us in all our affliction so that we may be able to comfort those in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves have been comforted by God." As always God blesses us so that we can bless. Apart from His ministry to us we have no effective ministry to others.
So, as you are walking though the things that your sphere of influence brings, there is two bits of good news; comfort is readily available to you from Him for all things and His ministry to you in them is broadening and deepening your ability and scope of ministry to others.
Let me encourage you to drink deeply of His river of comfort. You never know when you'll find yourself with someone who'll need just exactly what you are receiving right now.
I just wanted you to know and to remind myself. I need that.
Bless You Dear Ones,
Mitch
