The God of all comfort

Last week may very well have been the most difficult week of my life. Early on Wednesday morning, my only sister passed away after a lengthy illness. That same morning, Maple, my sweet dog and faithful companion of many years, was also sick. By Friday she hadn’t recovered, so we took her to the emergency vet. She had the same serious illness that took my sister. So for a second time that week, I had to say goodbye to someone I love. The following night I spent hugging the toilet bowl, doing what they used to delicately call, “casting up my accounts.” Thankfully, it was not Covid, more likely just my body’s reaction to grief.

A few days have passed, and though I still grieve, I’ve been thinking about our heavenly Father, and this passage:

Blessed [gratefully praised and adored] be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort, who comforts and encourages us in every trouble so that we will be able to comfort and encourage those who are in any kind of trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

2 Corinthians, 1:3-4 (AMP)*

A small but powerful word

Have you ever noticed the word “all” in this verse? He is the God of ALL comfort. This is the Greek word “pas” which means every part that applies. It has the sense of many parts making up one all-encompassing whole. He is the God of ALL comfort. It doesn’t matter what’s before you today–what illness, loss, trauma, or pain you face. His comfort applies to every bit of your troubles. There’s not a single corner of your pain that His love can’t reach.

Perhaps like me, your anguish feels bigger than His comfort right now. He understands that too. He is the God who created us. He gave us emotions and is well aware of how they impact us when the waters are rough. But whether you “feel” his presence or not, you can absolutely trust that He IS there. And that in itself brings comfort. He knows our pain. Hebrews 4:15 tells us that He “sympathizes” with our weaknesses. It’s popular for people to say, “I feel you” when they understand what you’re going through. Our Father “feels” us. He gets us. Our pain is His pain in that sense. And He promises to bring comfort in the midst of our sorrow.

I don’t know what pain might be pressing in on you today, but whatever it is, remember that His love, care, kindness, and compassion is all-encompassing. Stop for a moment, take a deep breath, and let the Father touch your soul with His love. And know that once your anguish subsides, God will use your story to bless someone else who’s in pain.

Let’s encourage each other

If you’re hurting today, leave me a note. I’m here to pray for you and encourage you. Let’s draw on God’s inexhaustible well of comfort together.

---

I know God will not give me anything I can’t handle. I just wish that He didn’t trust me so much.

Mother Teresa

---

*Amplified Bible Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation
All rights reserved www.lockman.org