Comforting Others
Part of our call is to comfort others (2 Cor 1:4). “God does not comfort us to make us comfortable, but to make us comforters” (J. H. Jowett). To do this, we have to face deprivation and sorrow. Through this, we turn to Him to be comforted and, thus, learn the value of comforting others. We receive His comfort for our heartache and are able to then comfort others in their sorrows.
In a dark place, a bright candle brings us comfort. We all have dark times and places but want the Lord to leave our candle alone (Isa 50:10-11, NCV). Yet, if we would see His revelation to us, we must recognize that He puts out our candle to enable us to obtain more. Not all can accept this but it is a source of great comfort to know that our loving and omnipotent Father appointed our sorrows for good reasons. “It will greatly comfort you if you can see God’s hand in both your losses and your crosses” (C. H. Spurgeon).
Why, then, do we so crave comfort? We far prefer to avoid pain and embrace pleasure. We like our life to be easy, secure, comfortable. Jesus was a man of sorrows who knew all about grief. He suffered enormously (Isa 53:3, CEV). Yet, He saw the Father’s hand in it (Heb 12:2). He focused on God’s will – not on His own comfort (Lk 22:42). He gave up His own candle to enjoy the Father’s light and comfort. It was worth it for Him and will be for us as well.
Comforting others is costly but worth it.