The Comfort of God

2Corinthians 1:3-7 NLT – 3 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.

• The Father of Mercies

Lamentations 3:22-23 ESV – 22 The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; 23 they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

• The God of all Comfort

Psalm 34:19 ESV – 19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.

• The One who comforts us in all our affliction

1.     God’s comfort doesn’t mean NO trouble!

John 16:33 NLT – 33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth, you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world."

Psalm 23:4 NLT – 4 Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.

2.     God Comforts us so we can comfort others.

2Corinthians 1:4 NLT - 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.

Ephesians 2:10 ESV – 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Romans 12:15 ESV – 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.

1Thessalonians 5:11 NLT – 11 So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.

3.     The Comfort of God doesn’t always look like deliverance.

2Corinthians 1:5-7 NLT - 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.

• The remarkable truth is that the hardship may be real, but so is the comfort of Christ. 

Hebrews 11:3 NLT – 3 By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God's command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.