“3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4who comforts us in all our affliction so that we may 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, NASB).
By nature, all humans are affliction and tribulation adverse. We do not want or welcome trials and troubles in our lives. If it were up to us, we would pretty much want to avoid any unpleasantness in our lives like a bad case of Covid. But, as we all know, afflictions are all part of the DNA of life.
When they come, how can we face them? How can we turn a negative into a positive. One of the ways is to see afflictions from God’s standpoint.
What can we learn from this passage in 2 Corinthians 1? God allows all of us to experience some difficulties, sorrow, and sacrifices in our lives. Why? So He can use us to empathize with the pain and sorrow that others may be going through. When you and I go through pain and sorrow we can empathize with those who are also suffering.
To be sure, our experience may not be exactly the same as another, but it could be close, the same, or perhaps worse than the pain that another person may experience. But our experience does enable us to be more empathetic and understanding of the pain they are experiencing.
To the person suffering from some affliction, it is a comfort to be able to honestly share their thoughts and feelings, doubts and fears with a person who has “walked the same journey”. There is kind of unspoken but powerful kinship between those who are hurting and in pain.
If we are willing, God can use us as a channel of His comfort to someone else who is suffering. People who are going through a trial often wonder where is God in this situation. He’s there working through you and me to provide comfort and strength, faith, hope and assurance of His presence and promises.
So, the next time you experience some kind of trial or tribulation in your life, see it as God preparing you to have the privilege and opportunity help someone else.
“The one who has passed through trouble is equipped by his own experience to sympathize with others who pass that way.” – Frederick Tatford, Brethren Pastor.
Pastor Arnold
August 8, 2024