God of All Comfort

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)

It's our normal human nature to want someone to make us feel better. It tends to sound like our younger generation has become greatly focused on such an attitude. I am deeply saddened when I hear so many looking to government and the often false promises of candidates to provide what they desire. They will be disappointed and find little comfort there.

Philosophers used to ponder the enigma of “man's inhumanity to man,” and considerable social and political rhetoric focuses on humans harming other humans, the stronger abusing the weaker, all kinds of neglect. While I find it equally puzzling to look to a government of such people to find a solution, let alone comfort, in the context of strong oppressing the weak, we shouldn't be too surprised at the heavy-handed methods those with power create to “fix” things.

The above encouragement begins with praise for God, a word, an idea,and for many a person who is ultimate power and an icon of fear, punishment, and control, deity made in fallen man's image. Paul follows that identification, however, with the words “Father,” “compassion,” and “comfort” 4 times. Not harsh demands from an autocratic, perhaps angry father, he is “the Father of compassion” and the “God of all comfort.”  By the way, the indicated links provide a larger passage from II Corinthians 1, where Paul shares his own troubles--"We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself"followed by God's deliverance.

How does God's compassion and comfort work? It begins with revelation. He has arranged for us to have His Word filled with the truth of his love, compassion, forgiveness, redemption, grace, comfort and more. Yes, he warns us against trying to go it alone. Don't believe the lie, that we sinners so want to believe, that we deserve better. We don't need a message from God to know that is wrong, that we are not deserving of comfort in a world shaped by human evil (including our own!), or that human selfishness, anger, and wishful thinking always will fail to provide what only a loving and compassionate God ever will...and has!

I believe we also receive our heavenly father's love, compassion, and comfort spiritually, if we are receptive. I believe we can and will feel his presence and assurance of his compassion, if we turn to him. 

The Bible says, “Taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34.8), but the entire Psalm is relevant to this discussion. In the first 3 verses, David, the Psalmist, praises, extols, and glorifies the Lord, and invites “the afflicted” to rejoice. In the next 4 verses, “this poor man,” David himself, materially powerful and wealthy but poor spiritually, called out to God and, as do all who call, experienced relief, literally “deliverance,” from fear, shame, and all their troubles. In this context, David invites, “Taste and see....” and “Fear¹ the Lord, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing.” Talk about comfort! He follows with a warning to the evil strong, symbolized by the lions, and his “holy” people to keep themselves from evil behavior. Verse 14 adds, “Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.”

The rest of the Psalm compares God's attitude toward his righteous children and the evil outsiders. He hears and watches his own, but turns away from evildoers. He responds to the call of the righteous (we who are now adopted and made righteous through the blood of Christ); indeed, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” He rescues us from grief, not merely grief in the loss of loved ones, but grief over our own sin, guilt, judgment, and, without Christ, spiritual death. His righteous children he delivers from all troubles, but those who are evil, the enemies of the righteous, will be condemned (encouraging in this day where so many good people are mocked, criticized, and condemned). 

David finishes with, “The Lord will rescue his servants; no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.” 

Seeking comfort, consolation, relief from troubles, or even loneliness, here's a good list of how God is and will be there!  Whether the troubles are personal, family-based, community-based, or worldwide, as they are today, He is there for us, waiting for us to look to him, seek him, taste his goodness, and give all our problems, anxieties, worries, and fear to him.

1Simply put, fear in this context means respect as a young child for a firm but beloved parent, not shaking in your boots terror as with the child of abuse.