In 2 Corinthians 1, Paul called God the 'God of all comfort,' and repeatedly draws attention to the fact that God loves to comfort his children. He loves to give them reprieve from suffering. He loves to grant them joy.
As a result, I've regularly prayed for the joy and comfort of people who are going through difficult circumstances. I think that's wise and good and would stand by it.
I do, however, want to make some observations about the comfort that God gives:
1) It is in the midst of suffering, not as a replacement for it.
2) It is in the midst of community, and given through speaking with each other about Christ.
3) Our suffering is to imitate Christ's sufferings if we expect to share in comfort. That means that it must either be the result of living like Christ on earth OR the result of living on earth in expectation that Christ will fix the world at the last day.
4) God often pushes us to be desperate, even of life itself, to give us comfort. Desparation and comfort are not mutually exclusive in our experience, and desperation can get pretty bad - but it is a surgical tool in the hand of the God who desires our comfort.
5) Our comfort is ultimately rooted in the fact that God has raised Christ from the dead and will raise us as well. Seeking mere existential comfort without historical rootedness is sub-Christian.
That's not an exhaustive study of the chapter, but I think it's telling that the purpose of comfort is not to rid us of suffering - but to show us, in history, and through godly conversation, how it has been dealt with and will be dealt with.
So, enough with the platitudes and seeking to drive at comfort and security without suffering before Jesus comes back. The comfort God gives, even now, in the midst of desparation, through the message about Christ, is better.
And he loves to grant it to his children.
As a result, I've regularly prayed for the joy and comfort of people who are going through difficult circumstances. I think that's wise and good and would stand by it.
I do, however, want to make some observations about the comfort that God gives:
1) It is in the midst of suffering, not as a replacement for it.
2) It is in the midst of community, and given through speaking with each other about Christ.
3) Our suffering is to imitate Christ's sufferings if we expect to share in comfort. That means that it must either be the result of living like Christ on earth OR the result of living on earth in expectation that Christ will fix the world at the last day.
4) God often pushes us to be desperate, even of life itself, to give us comfort. Desparation and comfort are not mutually exclusive in our experience, and desperation can get pretty bad - but it is a surgical tool in the hand of the God who desires our comfort.
5) Our comfort is ultimately rooted in the fact that God has raised Christ from the dead and will raise us as well. Seeking mere existential comfort without historical rootedness is sub-Christian.
That's not an exhaustive study of the chapter, but I think it's telling that the purpose of comfort is not to rid us of suffering - but to show us, in history, and through godly conversation, how it has been dealt with and will be dealt with.
So, enough with the platitudes and seeking to drive at comfort and security without suffering before Jesus comes back. The comfort God gives, even now, in the midst of desparation, through the message about Christ, is better.
And he loves to grant it to his children.
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