Pain and Comfort

Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! He is the Father who is compassionate and the God who gives comfort. He comforts us whenever we suffer. That is why whenever other people suffer, we are able to comfort them by using the same comfort we have received from God. Because Christ suffered so much for us, we can receive so much comfort from him. Besides, if we suffer, it brings you comfort and salvation. If we are comforted, we can effectively comfort you when you endure the same sufferings that we endure. We have confidence in you. We know that as you share our sufferings, you also share our comfort.
2 Corinthians 1:3–7 GW

Read today’s passage again and follow the intertwining trails of suffering and comfort.

Paul is writing to hold high the truth of our hope in Jesus’ resurrection. It’s not just that we are connected in a hope of pie-in-the-sky- by-and-by. We are connected in the hope that our suffering also has an outcome of comfort for others - and that is a miracle to behold!

Yes, Christians experience the pain of this world; sickness, loss, death, mourning, even ridicule. Enter the Holy Spirit’s power to transform all of that into hope. Whose faith-filled experience of pain have you had the blessing to observe? How did you see hope become trust? Thank God now for how that observed pain and observed hope has been a seed planted by the Holy Spirit in your heart.