The God of all Comfort

The message was brought by Rev. Tim Powers on May 4, 2025.

II Corinthians 1:2 Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; 4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. 5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. 6 And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.7 And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the  consolation.

We all have known or endured many things.  People are always looking for something and many look for comfort. We know that comfort comes from Jesus Christ. My dad got sick in February. He couldn’t walk and withered in pain. He was in the ICU for two months. He got put on a vent. I thought he would die.  It broke my heart, and I began to cry. I asked God why and when I opened my Bible it was in this scripture.

In the Greek the word “comfort” means to call to the side of. This is what God does. Comfort is a verb here–an action. It’s used to help someone. God comforts. He’s a God of action.  In tribulation, hurt, sorrow, whatever it is, HE IS the God of comfort.  We’ve all been through things, and it is God who brought us out.  It’s a lie to tell people after they get saved there will be no more trouble in life. We all have it, more so now because the devil is on us. BUT God is there. 

Why do these things happen?  Look at verse 4: that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. Help others. What we’re going through we can witness to others how God helped and comforted us. I can’t reach people that you can. We can be there for people with words or our presence letting them know that God is with them.  Peter tells us we must be obedient to God. The church has something special to offer the world. Why are we not sharing it!  In John 14 Jesus said he would not leave us comfortless. He sent the Holy Spirit, our Comforter. We’re the light in a dark world and should tell others about Jesus. Our hurt and suffering Jesus took on the cross. It was all laid upon him.  Everything we go through Jesus knows because of this.

It’s hard to pray for God’s will to be done when things look bad. I find comfort in Revelation 21:4 when it says And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.  I felt the God of all comfort wrap around me that night in the hospital with my dad. He was in a coma. I took his hand and read Paul’s words. He raised his other hand, and I knew it was in praise to God. I knew he was ready to go should this happen.  That was my comfort.  I’m thankful to say dad pulled through this and is doing well.

We have something to give the world. The scripture uses the word “consolation” and here it is a noun. Jesus Chris is our consolation.  Troubles are for a little while, but our consolation remains. Share with others how God has comforted you and been your consolation.