Session 17

God is our comforter

From What is God Like? A 21-Day Devotional

The doctor walks in with a pained face and a positive cancer diagnosis. A policeman knocks on the door to deliver news no parent ever wants to hear. Someone who promised never to leave walks out. A rejection letter crushes future plans.

We all need comfort sometimes. Pain, heartache, and tragedy are everywhere. There is no physical way to escape it. But we are not stuck, doomed to waiting for the next blow because we serve a God who is the Father of all compassion and comfort.

In 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, Paul speaks from his own tragic experiences about the power of God’s comfort. Paul was no stranger to hardship. He experienced immense suffering that should have broken him. But he knew where to run during hard times, and he testified time and time again to the faithfulness and reality of God’s comforting arms. 

Not only did Paul’s life show what it looks like to receive supernatural compassion, he showed how that same compassion overflows to others. Paul devoted his life to sharing the Gospel. He was an incredible encourager to Christians all over the world, regardless of his circumstances. But Paul was not a superhero. The impact of his ministry was a direct result of the Holy Spirit inside of Him. As Paul clung to God, the loving comfort he received was more than enough to share with others.

There is no end to God’s compassion. His desire and ability to wrap His arms around us are not constrained by circumstances. Whether our hardships are the result of someone else’s actions, our own unwise decisions, or pure chance, God wants to be our protection and strength. 

Like Paul, we have the Holy Spirit inside of us. That means we have access to an unlimited amount of comfort to receive and give to others. 

Reflect:

• How do you usually respond to hard situations? 
• Where have you seen God’s comfort in your own life?
• Do you know someone who needs the kind of comfort only God can give? What would it look like to comfort that person the way God has comforted you in the past?