Comfort is an important word in the christian’s vocabulary. It is used in a wide variety of ways these days, such as comfort zone, comfort stations, comfort foods, comfort shoes. However, in a more important and concerned sense, comfort is used to help others who are grieving, upset, worried, frightened, or distraught. Also, some seek comfort from different sources, such as church pastors, friends, colleagues, and family, especially in “short-term” situations. For example, anxieties or one who is not seriously hurt in an accident, or one who is temporarily hospitalized. In more serious cases, comfort can ease or alleviate a person’s pain, distress, uncertainty, pessimism and it also helps to restore optimism and a sense of well-being.
The Apostle Paul writes, ”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 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 Corinthians 1:3-4). Five times Paul uses the word comfort. Observe how Paul addresses God as “The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort.” This is the full title of both God and Jesus Christ. We also learn that God is the source of “mercies and all comfort.”
When Jesus informed His disciples He would be leaving them, he promised, “I will ask the Father and He would give you another Comforter to be with you forever, even the Spirit of Truth … I will not leave you comfortless, I will come to you” (John 14:16-18). The Greek word that is translated “Comforter” is “paracletos,” which means “called to one’s side.” The Comforter is indeed “God the Holy Spirit” who is our helper. Jesus also emphasized, “It is expedient for you that i go away: for if I do not go away, the Comforter will not come to you” (John 16:7). And, every christian knows that his or her body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. So, He is always with us, as Jesus promised.
God expects christians to be “comforters” whereby we are able “to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” This means that we have a God-given duty and responsibility to “reach out” and render comfort to others who may be experiencing difficulty of some kind. It may be the result of illness or the passing of someone.
We should greatly rejoice that our God is indeed the God of comfort who is willing and able to comfort His children in times of troubles and problematic situations. We should not miss the point that God is also the “Father of mercies,” which would indicate that His comfort results from his great mercies. King David prayed, “Hear. O LORD, and have mercy on me; O LORD, be my helper. You heave turned for me my mourning into dancing” (Psalm 30:10-11).
We can also find comfort in the Holy Scriptures. The Bible states, “Whatever things were written in earlier times, were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope” (Romans 15:4). Many have turned to the scriptures as a wonderful source of comfort, strength, and encouragement, when their circumstances take a tumble for the worse. When the prophet Jeremiah was experiencing perplexing problems, he rejoiced when he turned to God’s word and he wrote, “Your words were found and I ate them, and your words became to me the joy and delight of my heart” (Jeremiah 15:16). Let us rejoice that the Comforter is with us today and throughout our earthly life.