Our Comforting God

The Inescapable God
God Reveals
 
2 Corinthians 1:3-7 (The Message)
 ^3-5All praise to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus the Messiah! Father of all mercy! God of all healing counsel! He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us. We have plenty of hard times that come from following the Messiah, but no more so than the good times of his healing comfort—we get a full measure of that, too.  ^6-7When we suffer for Jesus, it works out for your healing and salvation. If we are treated well, given a helping hand and encouraging word, that also works to your benefit, spurring you on, face forward, unflinching. Your hard times are also our hard times. When we see that you're just as willing to endure the hard times as to enjoy the good times, we know you're going to make it, no doubt about it.


For Reflection One gnawing characteristic of human kind is that we all go through hard times, even those of us who know God and have his counsel.  Suffering hard times tests our mettle and at times we find it difficult to see God standing next to us with His arm aroung our shoulders.  Hard times are not always (like Job) God's doing .  Hard times are always opportunities for growth.  How would we understand those who let hard times get the best of them if we had not experienced suffering? Jesus suffered to show us how God suffers.  We suffer to show others that we understand their suffering.  We suffer with God at our sides so that we can show others the healing, comforting arm of God.

Pray
for those who suffer without knowing that God is at their side.  Pray that you will be a source of help and comfort for those who suffer.