The Great Comforter

Reading from the Book of II Corinthians 1:3-7

II Corinthians 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, ⁴ who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. ⁵ For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. ⁶ If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. ⁷ And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.

Have you been disappointed or hurt? Have you had changes in your life and you are experiencing a loss? Do you feel like you've been a failure in some way? Are you just simply tired? What is your trouble today? God wants to help you by comforting you when you need it.

The Holy Spirit is actually called "the Comforter". His various names describes His character. They reveal what He does and what He desires to do for believers. He is willing to do a great deal for us if we are willing to receive His help.

God will allow people to do a certain amount for us, and no more. Even those people who are extremely close to us cannot give us everything we need all the time. When we expect others to do for us what only God can do, we have our expectations in the wrong place, and we will always be disappointed.

No comfort is as good as God's. People can never give us what we really need unless God Himself uses other people to reach us, which He often does. Whether He uses another person to comfort you or He comforts you Himself by the Holy Spirit, just ask for and receive His comfort whenever you need it. He is the Great Comforter!