Paul was beaten and left for dead and yet he still wants to comfort others.
2 Corinthians 1:3-7 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. 4 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.5 For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. 6 Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer. 7 We are confident that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in the comfort God gives us.
What is your source of comfort? One of the blessings that we enjoy as God's children is that we have a source of comfort that can not fail. Through all the trials and persecutions that I may have to face, I have a Savior that has endured suffering far worse than I will ever have to stand up to.
It is easy to want to keep all the comforting to ourselves, after all doesn't it feel really good, and don't I deserve it? When I am being comforted the center of attention is me, who doesn't like that, but Paul told the church in Corinth that God comforts us so that we can in turn comfort others.
That is saying a lot when you realize the extreme persecution that Paul suffered that we will probably never experience and yet he didn't keep the attention turned upon himself and his trials but rather he sought to help others by sharing in the hope and comfort that comes from God.
Beyond enduring the trials, Paul went so far as to be thankful for the trouble that he had experienced, for it had caused him to get rid of the urge to depend on his own power and depend on the source of comfort that is bigger than any trial.
Want to help somebody that needs comfort? Prayer is a powerful tool although it seems to be too "hands off" for most of us. I tend to want to comfort somebody more by helping them in some tangible way but there is far more power to encourage and strengthen a friend in need through prayer.
There is a lot of hurting everywhere and it is real easy to find somebody that needs prayer, encouragement and a little comfort. I just need to do it!
