The Father of compassion

Faith in God does not protect us from the painful experiences of life. But it does offer us comfort and hope in the midst of the pain. The apostle Paul describes God as, “The Father of compassion and the God of all comfort” (2 Corinthians 1:3). He is the One who “comforts us in all our troubles”. The root meaning of the word “comfort” is to “strengthen much”. (Online Etymological Dictionary). When trouble and tragedy come we can be overwhelmed with grief. We may lose all our strength. It may seem too hard to keep going. It is then that we need the “comfort” that God gives to strengthen us.

God’s comfort does not come from denying our pain or pretending “everything is all right”. It comes from an awareness that God is with us in our troubles and that he offers us a hope beyond the present suffering. The apostle Paul is often considered to be a “spiritual giant” of the Christian faith. Yet, he could also write, “We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might rely not on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.” (2 Corinthians 1:8-11 NIV)

Times of tragedy and trouble remind us that life is uncertain and that we are sometimes helpless. But they can also be moments when we learn to lean on God’s mercy; love and strength. American president Abraham Lincoln put it this way, "I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. My own wisdom, and that of all about me, seemed insufficient for the day."

As we receive God’s comfort we can also offer that comfort to others through listening, loving and praying. In the words of the apostle, “On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers”. (2 Corinthians 1:10-11 NIV)