Comfort in the Uncomfortable

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 will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ. 2 Corinthians 1:3-5

The above Bible passage was sent to me by a friend after reading my article last week to give me the assurance that God will comfort me no matter what uncomfortable situation I may encounter. It is a blessed assurance to know the Father who is merciful is also a God of comfort. And although many of us may feel like we have a plethora of problems, He offers a cornucopia of comfort through Jesus. The King James Version of the Bible in John 14:16 tells us that Jesus said, “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever.” This Comforter is the Holy Spirit, who is also known as our Helper and our Advocate.

“If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know the One who sent Me… “When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me, and you will testify also, because you have been with Me from the beginning. John 15:18-21 and 26-27

To be hated and persecuted is not good, but our Good God has given us His Spirit to be ever present with us to comfort us and help us. He also leads us into all truth when the lies of the enemy swirl around us. And it is this truth that sets us free, so we do not have to be in bondage to worry and fear because the Comforter is with us. The Father who is abundant in mercy, overflowing in grace and full of love is always ready to offer us His comfort. Oswald Chambers wrote this in Utmost for His highest.

“He laid His right hand upon me.” In the midst of the awfulness, a touch comes, and you know it is the right hand of Jesus Christ. The right hand not of restraint nor of correction nor of chastisement, but the right hand of the Everlasting Father. Whenever His hand is laid upon you, it is ineffable peace and comfort, the sense that “underneath are the everlasting arms,” full of sustaining and comfort and strength. When once His touch comes, nothing at all can cast you into fear again. In the midst of all His ascended glory the Lord Jesus comes to speak to an insignificant disciple, and to say — “Fear not.” His tenderness is ineffably sweet. Do I know Him like that?

It is so good to know God as a Father who offers us comfort, peace and strength “in the midst of the awfulness.” He is tender and sweet to His children who are in discomfort. And His children are the ones who are led by His Spirit and who obey Him. There may be times that obedience can be arduous, but we serve a God who is ardent about comforting us during difficulties. And in turn, we can comfort others when they go through their sufferings.

I will end with an excerpt from Charles Spurgeon’s sermon on the passage my friend sent me. He delivered this message on June 15, 1882 from the Metropolitan Tabernacle pulpit.

Welcome your trials, then, beloved; open wide your doors, and say to tribulations, “Come in, come in; this is the place where you are to lodge, for my Master said, ‘In the world ye shall have tribulation.’” Welcome even that black trouble that has a mask on its face; it is no adversary coming to kill you; when the mask is taken off, you will see that, underneath it, there is a bright, smiling face. Some of us can say to affliction, “Come in, and welcome, for the costliest jewels we ever possessed were brought by you; you have done us more good than all our joys put together.” We should have had no harvest if God had left us like the hard road outside the field; but the soil has been cut up by the sharp plough, and often our very soul has been grievously tried as the harrow and the scarifier have gone over us again and again; but all these processes have caused us to bring forth fruit to the praise and glory of God. Therefore, again I say, welcome your troubles. Do not be sorry if they travel with you for a while, for they are good guests; many a time, by entertaining trouble, we have “entertained angels unawares.” God bless you, brethren and sisters, by making you a comfort to others; and probably it will be through the very trials which greatly vex you!