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 affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

                                                                                                         2 Corinthians 1:3-4 

Often, we see repetition in Paul’s writings. He will often discuss a specific topic and use the same word numerous times in order to make his point (compare with 2 Corinthians 3:4-6, 2 Corinthians 5:17-20). In today’s passage, that word is “comfort.” And what is his instruction to the church? It is that, in addition to being declarers of good news, ministers of reconciliation, and purveyors of hope, we are to be conduits of comfort.

To begin, God is described as the “Father of mercies” and the “God of all comfort.” Just as love is something that comes from God, so too is comfort. The word comfort can be defined as “being in a state of physical ease.” It is “freedom from pain or constraint.” Comfort is what we all desire. The pursuit to live in comfort is only natural. We seek out safe, secure, and comfortable places in order to spend time there. Often, a comfortable place is chosen with the desire to spend time with God. Time spent in a quite meadow, a stroll by a slow running stream, or a walk in the woods can assist us in escaping the drudgery of life and the demands of the world. But whether we are pursuing comfort at home or during our time with God, there is no better greater comfort to be had than spiritual comfort.

Spiritual comfort is the reality that our emotional, mental, and spiritual state is completely at ease. With the knowledge that God is our Savior, Protector, and Shield, those that possess spiritual comfort are indeed the most blessed. No matter what we face in this life, spiritual comfort provides a way for us to move through the situation with confidence and ease and void of worry. Even when we are persecuted for our faith, we can remain in the comfort of God. This is Paul’s second point.

The God of all comfort comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort others. The comfort we enjoy from our relationship with God is not for ourselves alone. We are to take that same divine distribution of comfort and pour it into the lives of others. Consider these other examples of redistributing what we have gained from Christ into the lives of others:

Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.  

                                                                                       1 John 4:11 

For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.

                                                                                                             Matthew 6:14-15 

Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Do not judge, and you will not be judged; and do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; pardon, and you will be pardoned. 

                                                                                                                     Luke 6:36-37 

Because God loves us, we are to love others. Because He is willing to forgive and to restore us, we are to forgive and restore our relationships as well. God is merciful to us so we are to be merciful to others. And as believers in Jesus Christ, we are free from judgment and condemnation. It is because of this that we are to abandon judgment and condemnation also. We have been pardoned, so we too are to pardon. The same is true for comfort. As God comforts us, we are to comfort those in need.

But there remains yet another part of this passage. The comfort that we use to help others is the very same comfort that we have received from God. Consider Paul’s words:

…so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 

There is no substitute for divine comfort. If we have ever experienced the pardon and release that comes from God’s forgiving and restoring us, we cannot help but desire to see that same experience in the lives of those around us. We are not asked to manufacture love, forgiveness, or comfort. We are only instructed to share what we have been given with others.

I believe that one of the main reasons more people are not pouring into the lives of others is that they are in need of divine comfort themselves. We simply cannot give away something that we ourselves do not have. That is why it is so important for Christians to foster a deep, intimate, and powerful relationship with Jesus. It is only through our experiences with Him that we are equipped with the power to assist others. The world is in desperate need of people who will walk along side of them, bringing comfort, joy, peace, and hope. Are you willing to be a conduit of comfort?