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 tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)

He Is A God Of Comfort

Life is filled with pain and grief. There is no escaping the sorrow of the heart. Sin is the reason for suffering when Adam and Eve are removed from the Garden of Eden. The Tree of Life was taken away because first Eve, then Adam, took the fruit forbidden by God. Without access to the life-giving tree, death came upon all men. Disease began to destroy health, and sin brought about murder and persecution. Adam and Eve buried their son, Abel, not fully grasping what death meant. Methuselah lived nearly one thousand years, and he died. Everyone dies, and that is the end of the matter.

Jesus came in the flesh to experience the human frame. He suffered hunger, thirst, weariness, anger, joy, happiness, and sorrow. At the tomb of Lazarus the Holy Spirit reveals that Jesus wept. This was not the first time Jesus cried. It would not be His last. Like all men, Jesus died. His death was fashioned after the tortures of human invention, but on the cross, He breathed His last. He was buried in a sealed tomb guarded by Roman soldiers. Jesus rose from the dead on the third death and has never died since. He is the only man who has died, resurrected, and has not died again. Many enjoyed resurrections, but they all died again. Friends and family grieved the loss of their loved ones.

God is the God of all comfort. He knows and understands the grief men experience in life. Jesus did not suffer alone. The Father watched as His Son shared in the sorrows and griefs of the human form. God created the human frame to experience the emotions of sadness, suffering, and pain. He did not leave humanity without a message of hope when facing grief. God wants His creation to know that He is a God who can bring solace to the broken heart, joy to the grieving soul, and happiness to the downtrodden spirit. The Lord is full of mercy to soothe the broken heart. When life is filled with tribulation, affliction, and trouble; God is there to bring comfort. If God can hold the universe in His hand, He can understand and help in the grief and sorrow that men experience. Nothing is outside the realm of God’s mercy.

Learning to embrace the love of God and finding comfort in times of grief affords those comforted the opportunity to comfort others. Few understand grief until they have walked in the valley of grieving. For those who have found joy in the presence of the Lord, the task is to share that grief lesson with others. God will comfort the broken-hearted, and it is important for those who have lost loved ones to share their grief with others. This serves the purpose of helping those who grieve and have walked through the valley of suffering. Sharing a life of suffering helps those who grieve to bear the heavy burden.

Everyone needs others to help in times of grief. Few will travel the earth without the experience of pain that comes with disappointment, disease, and death. God has formed man to help others pass through the shadows of grieving. God comforts our hearts, and we are to comfort the hearts of others. Our task is to learn the mercy of God as we face grief and then to share our compassion with those who weep and mourn. We are blessed to have a God of comfort. Let our lives bless those who need to know the God of comfort. Shining our light is sharing our love.