How comfortable does God want us to be? A thought came to me as I read a devotional
this week that was a little discomforting: “Do I place too high a value on comfort? How high of a priority have I placed on my own physical ease, freedom from pain, or constraint?”
We can seek comfort for many reasons: we are in physical or emotional pain, stressed about a relationship, a financial burden, a health crisis, or some combination of these. We can also seek comfort because we don’t want to do something that we know we need to do. Putting a high priority on comfort can lead us into bad habits, self-soothing, and take our mind and heart away from the only One who can bring true comfort.
Scripture is clear, that our Lord desires to comfort us. In 2 Cor. 1:3-4, Paul speaks to the church at Corinth about the comfort that comes from the Lord. “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 may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” In these verses, Paul describes where our comfort comes from, when we will receive comfort, and what the purpose of comfort is.
God is the only source of true comfort. There is no medicine, no furniture, no entertainment, nor any other distraction that can comfort our souls. God knows our needs and is faithful and loving to provide for those needs, particularly when we are in the midst of affliction. Whether it be in the form of pain, stress, broken relationships, financial hardships, health problems, workplace issues, political pressures, personal battles, and a number of other crises we face, we are never alone in our affliction. Most importantly we should recognize in this passage that Paul is speaking about the affliction we face for our faith in Christ and how that faith transforms us and manifests in the image we are becoming, like Christ.
No affliction can come upon us without our sovereign God allowing it for our growth. As James wrote, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” James 1:2-4. Beyond our personal sanctification, God comforts us in our affliction that we may pour out that comfort on others. We cannot share what we don’t have. That includes our faith in Christ as well as the trials and afflictions that He has seen us through. These become the springboard for how we can minister to others through the love, grace, and mercy that have been shown to us. Rather than seek out comfort, while it may be appealing, see growth in your walk, and let God be the comforter only He can be. As Jesus says in Matthew 11:28: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
In Christ,
Scott King
Elder
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