Are You Comfortable? Or Comforted?

Devotions for Growing Christians

Are you Comfortable? Or Comforted?

When you think of the word “comfort,” what comes to mind? 

Do you envision yourself lounging in a shaded hammock on a Caribbean beach?  How about sitting in a cozy fireside chair with coffee and a good book on a snowy winter day?  Maybe you imagine a large bank account that would allow you to do whatever you want?  These things might sound comfortable, but that’s not the meaning of comfort we find in the Bible.

To catch the Biblical meaning of the word “comfort,” picture the following situations:

-       A desperately struggling swimmer rescued by a lifeguard.

-       A sobbing child, lost in the supermarket, helped by a kind employee.

-       A grief-stricken mother consoled by a compassionate pastor.

-       A wrongly-accused worker backed by someone who believes their side of the story.

-       A sick parent supported and encouraged by a spouse and children.

In the Bible, the primary idea in the word comfort is “to come alongside to give aid in time of need.”  2 Corinthians 1:3-4 says, “God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort.  He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others.  When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.”

Comfort for us 

There's a promise we can claim in 2 Corinthians 1:4:  Our heavenly Father will comfort us in all our troubles.  The word “troubles” refers to a problem that causes us to be "burdened in spirit."  It could be physical suffering.  It could be the loss of a loved one.  It could be the pressure of distressing circumstances.  When life gets us down, God has promised to come alongside and help us.

So, if you’re discouraged because you feel nobody appreciates the job you're doing, call on the Lord.  He’ll come alongside and provide comfort.  If you’re struggling in social or family situations, look to the Lord.  You have the amazing promise of His assistance and comfort.

It’s important to note that when we call on the Lord it should be "out of a pure heart” (1 Timothy 2:22).  In other words, we should first question why our spirits are downcast.  Are we bitter against God, angry with a relative, jealous of our colleague at work?  If the root of our burdened spirit is from something along these lines, we should first address the state of our heart and attitude.  If our hearts are in the right place, then we can always count on God to comfort and help us in our times of need.

A beautiful side of this promise is that He will comfort us in all our troubles (v4).  That means the things that are afflicting us personally.  Someone else may consider our problems insignificant.  Maybe our problem is even too personal to discuss with anyone, but it’s bringing our spirit down just the same.  If we call on the Lord, we can trust that He’ll be there for us.  Even if we’re prone to make mountains out of molehills, or if our problems are due to our own poor decisions, our gracious God still promises to help!

Comfort for others

If we’ve experienced God’s comfort, the second half of verse 4 gives us a responsibility:  we should comfort others.  Pay it forward.  This is a special personal method that God had chosen to distribute His comfort.  We come alongside others who are in need, and provide comfort as God has comforted us.  

We’re not just comforted to be comfortable.  We’re comforted to comfort.

We can become channels of comfort.  We shouldn’t stand on the sidelines when others have problems, we should be involved.  "He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others.”

One reason why God permits us to go through troubles and hardships is to experience the areas in which others need help.  Have you ever experienced the comfort of God when you were lonely?  Then find that lonely person in school or the workplace and pass on the comfort of God.  Have you ever experienced the comfort of God as you grieved the loss of a loved one?  Then look for a grief-stricken friend who desperately needs God’s comfort.  Did the Lord help ease your mind you when you lost your job?  Then look for ways to help your neighbor who has just been laid off.  

It’s easy to slide into the mindset that the Christian life should be free of any problems or trouble.  It might even be easy to question God when things don't go smoothly.  We often think that if we’re “good Christians,” then we should have no problems.  But remember, if our lives are free of problems, we’ll never have chance to know the comfort of God! 

Think of a child who falls and scrapes his knee.  His father comes alongside, picks him up, comforts him, and bandages his knee.  The experience of comfort was only possible because he of the trauma and pain he first endured.  Our heavenly Father permits scrapes and bruises in life so we can experience His care and His comfort, and then pass it on to others.

Let’s anticipate that our lives may not always be comfortable, but rather continually comforted!

- Dave Reid 

(Updated 2022, Ron Reid)