September 29, 2020
I greet and bless everyone in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. The blessed word that God has given for you today is from the book of 2 Corinthians 1:4, “God comforts us in all our tribulation that we may be able to comfort them who are in trouble.”
From the above context we understand that our God comforts all those who are in trouble. The Bible says, “In this world you will have tribulation but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” Yes, our God has overcome all the troubles that you should go through. He has borne not only your troubles but also your disease, your debts and all other problems that you have to experience in your life.
Our Father in heaven has a wondrous array of divine qualities, and godly characteristics. But one of His essential elements is that He is our God of all comfort. He is our Source of all consolation. Jesus himself while he lived as a man in this world had to go through several problems. He came into the earth to fulfil His Fathers will, yet he needed favour of man and God. Whenever He was helpless He looked up to God in prayer and was comforted. He learned obedience by the things that He Himself suffered, and this is more than adequate to identify with our hurt and pain and to empathise with our sorrow and suffering. Oh yes, He is more than equipped to comfort us in all our afflictions.
The Apostle Paul in this verse confirms the above character of God, as “the God of all comfort”, by his own experience, and that of his fellow ministers; who, in spite of their great tribulation and affliction for the sake of Christ, and his Gospel, yet were not left destitute of divine help and support under their trials; but had much consolation administered to them by the presence of God. Why God was pleased to comfort them in such a manner was not because of their own account; but for the good of others. And there is a wider purpose and a greater reason that our Father of mercies, and God of all comfort never fails to stoop down and comfort us in our affliction and to console us in our miseries, for He has purposed that we who are comforted of Him, may be ready and equipped to comfort and succour all those who are in any kind of affliction.
Our God became a God of comfort, because of his living experience. He had felt that ever-continuing comfort was flowing into his soul, and he knew that it had not been given to him for his own profit only, but that it might flow forth to others. The Lord is able to give peace to the troubled conscience, and to calm the raging passions of the soul. It is our Saviour who says, Let not your heart be troubled. All comforts come from God, and our sweetest comforts are in him. He comforts everyone, by the rich mercies of his grace. He is able to bind up the broken-hearted, to heal the most painful wounds, and also to give hope and joy under the heaviest sorrows. The favours God bestows on us are not only to make us cheerful, but also that we may be useful to others.
Today many of you are reading this message with great expectation. Many are reading this message with tears in your eyes; you seem to be broken hearted. Some of you are not able to pay back your EMI for the loan you received from the bank. Some are unable to complete your house construction. You have no money to finish it. You look very troubled. Some are saying, “Look poverty is lying at my door step.” You have lost all your hope. You are unable to pay the fees for your children and now the schools are about to be opened after the Lock Down period. Some are unable to treat your sick children since you have no money. Some of you received only half your salary and you find it very difficult to maintain your monthly expenditure. Surely your hope and trust will not be in vain, nor shall any be ashamed who trust in the Lord. So don’t lose hope in God. God says, “I will not forget you nor forsake you. I will guide you with My eyes. For you are the apple of My eyes. Do not be afraid, I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.” God is watching you and the problems that you go through. He will rescue you, from your problems because He is a comforting God.
God Himself allows trouble in our lives that we may look up to God and be comforted. Many are the troubles and afflictions of those who are called to serve Him. But it is the will of God that they should be comforted: So we should speak comfortably to the people of God who suffer tribulation or affliction. The Bible says, “Comfort, yes comfort My people” only then they are blessed with a rich experience of divine consolation in themselves. Troubles cause the poor to come to God. For God hears the cry of the afflicted. And kindness should be shown to those who go through affliction. When we experience troubles then we are able to understand those who are in trouble and will be able to lend a helping hand. May God help you to extend a hand of help to those who are struggling in life. God bless you.
Prayer: Our loving heavenly Father, we thank You for this blessed day. Lord we thank You for comforting us in times of affliction. Grant us the strength to overcome all our trials by placing our faith in You. Help us to speak words of comfort, to those in trouble. Uphold us by the arm of your mercy and help us to come out of all our troubles successfully. Do not put us to shame before others.
In Jesus name we pray.
Amen.
