Comfort & Consolation

2 Corinthians 1:3-6
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 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. 5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. 6 Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation."

Could it be more clear? The answer to life's big "Why?" question is comfort and consolation. We are united in Christ's suffering so that we may join the God of all comfort and the Father of all mercies in comforting others for their consolation and salvation (vs6). In this case, trials and tears are the lenses through which we more clearly see the afflictions of others. The consolation of Christ carries us to act on what we then see. For me, mercy and comfort were at best blurry and foreign until I suffered the loss of my father-in-law and the my father. (It has been two years this weekend since we said goodbye to Jeff.) Now my heart is more tender, my eyes more sharp to the hurt of others and my ministry of mercy stronger. The blessing of trials is so much greater than the weight of the suffering - to be used by God in the ministry of comfort for the consolation and salvation of others.

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. Use me Father for the consolation and salvation of someone today. Amen

Thank you Jeff

Thank you dad