The Comfort of God

How do we experience comfort from God that can grow our contentment and trust in Him? We know God comfort us, but sometimes we miss it because we have created our own definition of comfort or we are seeking tangible, worldly comfort. God’s comfort is far superior to any comfort we could have from any other person or thing. Let’s look at the comfort God offers to His children.

2 Corinthians 1:1-11 

Paul has been experiencing tremendous suffering. He is persecuted and suffering for his faith, but he has also been shipwrecked, alone, had betrayal of friends, and other suffering. How does Paul stay content?

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

To the church of God that is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in the whole of Achaia:

Paul greets the Corinthians. He is writing to them as an apostle - a “sent one” from God. It is God’s will that Paul is writing and preaching the word. Paul’s word have authority.

He is with a friend, Timothy. God provided Paul with co-workers and friends in the faith. We shouldn’t overlook God’s gift of comfort in friends!

2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

This is a common way Paul wrote His letters. Grace from is God and Jesus. God’s good, free gift of His love should always be at the forefront of life! Peace is an objective fact. Peace here isn’t a feeling. Peace is the reality that Christ’s shed blood on the cross satisfied the wrath of God. God’s grace and peace are realities for us. That is where contentment is rooted!

God of All Comfort

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 

Paul is praising God and the use of “blessed” is “happy”. God enjoys giving mercy and comfort.  We see God’s character! 

God is merciful! He does not give us what we deserve. Mercy is withholding the just punishment for our sins. The wages of sin is death. God withholds that in His mercy.

God is tender hearted and kind to us in His mercy. Grace is the giving of good gifts in place of not giving us what we deserve. Mercy withholds punishment, Grace gives gifts. We aren’t just “not put to death” we are blessed, lavished with good gifts like we saw in Ephesians 1.

God is the God of all comfort. John MacArthur says, “It is God who is the ultimate source of every true act of comfort”. 

The word Comfort  is used in a variety of ways in Scripture. Comfort means coming alongside, to console, to give rest, showing kindness, to dwell with, to have compassion, to quiet the soul, to satisfy, give words of encouragement, give cessation of distress.

God is the One who comes alongside us in our suffering and offers His help! He is the sympathetic God who understands our affliction, and He is the God of all comfort who comes alongside with kindness, rest, compassion, and quiets our soul with encouragement and satisfies us with His very nature.

4 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. 

Affliction means a “crushing pressure” or a burden, tribulation, trouble. 

God comforts us in all our all of our affliction. He is ALWAYS the One with comfort to offer. 

The question might be: Am I willing to receive God’s comfort? 

I’ll talk more specifically about ways God comforts us in a moment, but when we feel inconsolable, are we rejecting God’s comfort?

We also see the purpose that God’s comfort should lead us to comfort others. Our suffering is an opportunity to love and serve others in being a comfort to them. Affliction, pain of circumstances, can tend to make us draw inward and focus on ourselves. God’s plan is for us to turn outward and look for others to encourage, bless, and comfort.

5 For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. 

Christ sets the example that suffering comes before glory. 

We will suffer in this world. We should not be surprised that we suffer. We need to expect suffering. God was a comfort to Christ.  Through our union with Christ, we get to share in God’s comfort.

6 If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. 

Paul thinks more about the “church”, all believers . We tend to think individually. When a believer is afflicted, it is to comfort others as they see God’s comfort at work in us. As we are comforted by God, it is for others comfort when they endure affliction too. 

The body of believers is connected. We are all part of God’s family. Our suffering and comfort are interconnected with each other. It is God’s design and purpose that our suffering and comfort be a comfort for others.

This is a call to not turn inward and have a pity party or isolate ourselves away from others. It’s God’s purpose to share our suffering so that we share in God’s comfort.

7 Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.

Think about the Corinthians church. In First Corinthians, Paul address false teachers and those who were accusing him of arrogance and wrong teaching. (See 1 Corinthians 3). Paul is humbly offering comfort to those who sinned against him.

8 For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers,  of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. 9 Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. 

Paul explains that he and Timothy suffered so much they thought they were going to die. They felt like the burdens were too great to survive. They felt like they received the sentence of death. 

BUT, THAT WAS TO - God has purpose in our intense suffering that seems too much to handle. 

God does not promise to deliver us from all suffering that leads to death. There will be suffering that results in death from this life. 

But He does promise to comfort through all suffering, even the suffering that seems too great for us -  and the purpose of all suffering is to not rely on ourselves but to grow in reliance on God.

Paul then reminds himself of God’s power. The God who raises the dead - there is nothing too difficult for God. there is nothing outside of His ability. Paul finds comfort in God’s character. 

10 He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. 

Paul looks to God’s ultimate deliverance from eternal death. We have HOPE because we will live eternally with God.

11 You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.

Paul understood the importance of prayer. Paul asks the church to pray for him because He knows God is compassionate and hears. The goal of prayer is for God to be glorified through thanksgiving. God gets the credit for comforting us and delivering us from affliction. God’s will will be accomplished through prayer. As we ask for prayer, others grow in dependence on God, too!

Let’s look at how God comforts us. I have divided these into categories so that it is easier to think through.

God offers physical comfort.
Genesis 18:3 -5 is the story of Abraham as he refreshes visitors with food, water, and washing their feet.

3 He said, “If I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, do not pass your servant by. 4 Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree. 5 Let me get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed and then go on your way—now that you have come to your servant.”

“Very well,” they answered, “do as you say.”

In 1 Kings 19 Elijah has fled from Jezebel after the contest between Elijah and the false prophets. God has brought fire down on Elijah’s altar that was soaked in water and displayed His power. Yet Elijah runs away in fear for his life.

4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” 5 And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, “Arise and eat.” 6 And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank and lay down again. 7 And the angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched him and said, “Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.” 8 And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God. 

God provides shade, cakes, and water that is enough strength to go on forty days and forty nights.

God does not promise that every single physical want or even need will be met on this earth. There may be times when we don’t have the money to eat the way we want, or need to use food stamps or go to the food bank for free food. There may be homeless people who don’t have the shelter. A believer may die because of the weather or physical need. But the ultimate comfort of Christ is always present and the HOPE of eternity is our comfort.

We don’t want to neglect seeing God’s comfort in the physical needs He meets each day! God gives comfort in physical provision.

God also provides moral and emotional comfort.

In John 11 Jesus consoles Martha at the loss of Lazarus. In verse 23-27 Jesus points to the resurrection of life. His comfort comes in reminding Martha that this life is not all there is. Our comfort comes in thinking about eternity and life in Christ. Whoever comes to Jesus will never die. Martha was emotionally upset, and Jesus comforts her with the truth of who He is and what He accomplishes through His death and resurrection.

In Luke 24 we see Jesus after the resurrection as He is headed to Jerusalem. He talks to men on the road to Emmaus. They are distressed about Jesus’ death and the potential of Jesus’ body being stolen and not knowing what has really happened. These men asked Jesus, “Are you the only one who doesn’t know the events of the last few days?” They don’t know Jesus and don’t recognize Him. As Jesus explains the entire Scripture to them, they are changed by God’s Word.

Luke 24:24 “They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?”

 “our hearts burned within us” as Jesus explained the scriptures. God’s word stirs our hearts. It brings comfort to confusion and lack of wisdom. God’s word provides comfort when we read and listen to God’s truth and see How Christ is the focal point of life.

God gives emotional comfort in His promises. They are meant to strengthen our thoughts and emotions

God’s promises include:

Suffering will end, it is not eternal.

God draws near to the brokenhearted.

Jesus sympathizes with us, our High Priest understands our situation.

God’s presence offers comfort. Comfort means to come alongside, walk with another person. See Isaiah 41:10 and Hebrews 13:5 for just a couple of references to God’s presence. God being with His people is the most often given promise in Scripture. God wants us to know that He is always, always, always, with us!

Exodus 33:14 “And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

We are emotionally strengthened through prayer and knowing God hears us and responds..

Psalm 138:3 “On that day I called, you answered me, my strength of soul you increased.”

Psalm 46:1 - “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling.”

God is our refuge and strength. God is the one we go to for safety and protection and this includes protection from lies and falsehoods. When we are needing safety and protection from our own wrong thinking and emotions, God is our refuge. He is the One who gives us strength to endure whatever our situation is. God is a very present help. I love that description. A very present help - it’s not help that needs to arrive and we hope it’s not late. God is present - always - and help is what He gives!

The picture of the earth giving way, mountains moving into the sea, waters roaring and foaming are all pictures of chairs and destruction. No matter what happens, God is our refuge.

The abiding Holy Spirit is the “Comforter”.

John 14:26, 28 in the amplified version of Scripture gives a beautiful description of the Holy Spirit.

But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things.

We have the indwelling Holy Spirit and He is our comforter. He reminds us of truth. He enlightens our eyes to see God’s character and work. He teaches us. He sanctifies us. This is who the Holy Spirit is -

God’s rod and staff are comforts to His children. 

Psalm 23:4 - Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me,  your rod and your staff,  they comfort me.”

God rod and staff are comforts - The rod and staff are shepherd’s tools. The staff is the longer stick with a crook on the end.. It looks like a candy cane. This instrument is a gentle nudging in the right direction. It’s a leading and guiding implement. 

The rod is more corrective. It was a short, thick tree branch used more like a club. If a sheep was wandering a shepherd would break a sheep’s leg to prevent it from wandering so far off from the others that it’s life was in danger. Breaking the leg would be painful, but would ultimately save the sheep’s life. The rod could also be used to fend off wolves and other predators. A shepherd is fiercely protective of his sheep, and we have The Good Shepherd offering His comfort to us!

There are times when God uses the staff and rod in our lives. Do we receive that as comfort?

Your rod and your staff they comfort me. If we resist God’s guidance and discipline, we are resisting His comfort.

God also offers comfort for our thinking.

God has much to say about how we think. We talked about this a lot!

Philippians 4:4-10  4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness[d] be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, (COMFORT) which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

When we are rejoicing, we are thinking rightly about God and what He has done. When we continually find joy in God and Christ

When our “reasonableness” is known, we have reasoned well about who God is and what His purpose is for our circumstances - We are living like we truly Trust God and His plan

BECAUSE He is at hand - God is a very present help with us!

When we pray and ask and give thanks, we are thinking rightly about God

We will experience the peace of God - His comfort comes when we are settled on His Truth.

Paul explains this mental comfort in thinking rightly in the next couple of verses - 

8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

In John 11, Lazarus dies and Mary and Martha are understandably upset, Martha says “If you had been here….” Jesus could have saved Lazarus from dying and saved them all the grief. But, Jesus says, “it was for your sake that I delayed”. Jesus wants Martha and Mary to see the bigger picture and find comfort in God’s bigger design for the world that just extending someone’s life on earth a few years.

God also offers Relational Comfort. God provides Christ to be the atonement for our sin and restore us to right relationship with Himself.

Romans 5:1-2  “Therefore since we have been justified by faith we have peace with God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Through Him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God”

We have the comfort of being in relationship with God. Based on this relational comfort, we are given ways to live with others that will allow us to experience the peace of God (regardless of how others respond)

Micah 6:8 shows us how to love others well. We are comforted by being like Christ and loving others.-

“Do justice, love mercy, walk humbly with God”

Romans 12:11-21 shows us again how to love others. As we outdo one another in showing honor, repay good for evil, and live peaceably with all so far as it is up to us, we receive the comfort of knowing the Holy Spirit is at work in us. We cannot love others as we are commanded on our own. The comfort of seeing God’s power in our lives is amazing! 

God gives those commands to us so that we experience joy and comfort in having pleased Him regardless of how the other person responds!

In Hebrews 4:14-16 we read that Jesus is the High Priest who sympathizes with us.  Jesus’s sympathy brings us comfort as we know He suffered greatly, more greatly than we ever will. He understands our pain physically, emotionally, mentally. 

Romans 8:32 tells us that God is FOR us.

1 Timothy 2:5 assures us that Jesus is our mediator. He relationally bridges the gap between a holy God and sinful man.

Hebrews 7:25 says Jesus “always lives to intercede” for us. 

Jesus prays for us. He goes to His Father on our behalf and prays for us.

We are forgiven past, present, future sins, but JEsus continues to apply the grace and mercy of the cross in our lives every day! His work is on-going!

What comfort can we draw from our relationship with Jesus?

Our relationship with Jesus should change how we relate to others. But resting in what Jesus has done and is continuing to do, is where our comfort and hope is found.

How does God’s comfort help you in season of discontent? Do you need to stop and think about how God is showing you comfort? Take some time to examine the Scriptures and see the myriad ways that God is giving comfort right now.

What are  you discontent about? 

Where do you struggle to receive God’s comfort?

How can meditation on God’s comfort help you grow in contentment?