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Wednesday, September 23, 2009

God of All Comfort


"God does not comfort us to make us comfortable but to make us comforters."
~ J.H. Jewett



Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
~ Romans 15:5-6 (NKJV)

[The] God of all comfort ... comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
~ 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NKJV)

For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.
~ 1 Corinthians 6:20 (NKJV)


We are instructed to glorify God. Indeed, the Westminster Catechism teaches that "The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever."

We can do so by allowing our light to shine before men with good deeds. We also glorify God in extending comfort to those around us which reflects the God of All Comfort.

How do we share comfort unless we have intimately known the God of All Comfort? How do we intimately know His comfort unless we have suffered?

In great suffering is great comfort. The greater our suffering, the greater our opportunity to glorify God in it.

Father God, we are a people who have too often made our chief end to evade suffering. Please keep us mindful of our purpose to glorify You. Please extend to us the grace which embraces suffering and seeks out Your comfort. Please make us ready to extend comfort, and to rely on You to know how.

Contrasting points-of-view, questions and feedback are invited. Post to
BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2009, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.

12 comments:

  1. May we always seek to comfort those that are hurting, as our Father does us.

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  2. It's true, many times, we as Christians try as much as possible to evade suffering. But suffering is an integral part of our life if we are to seriously walk with Christ! Tks for the article.

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  3. "How do we share comfort unless we have intimately known the God of All Comfort?"

    He left His home of comfort and became a man of sorrows, for us.

    We view suffering as something to run to not from. Like running toward a house fire to aid in its extinguishing. In leaving our comfort zone and sharing another’s sorrow we turn the inferno into a comforting campfire.

    Comforting post – thank you Anne

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  4. God is Comfort Food . . . Taste and see...

    Thanks Anne...

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  5. I felt the Scripture from this post several days ago when I posted about Broken Places. I didn't really want to write about it, but I think helping others feel less alone is a great comfort. I grew up so often feeling like I was alone in my suffering. I love the way you sew your message with Scripture. Thanks for the continued inspiration.
    ~ Wendy

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  6. Denise, I think EVERYone is hurting, whether just a little or a whole lot. There's no limit to where comfort is needed. You're a dear to share it so generously.

    Bible Love, true that. Jesus said to expect suffering.

    Doug, I do have days when I just want to be comfortable. I'm grateful for people like you to keep me moving...

    Russell! "Comfort Food" -- I LIKE that. I suffer from being culinarily-challenged. Perhaps serving "comfort food" here will compensate for my humble hospitality from the kitchen?

    Joyful Chaos, thanks for stopping by. I'm blessed to see you.

    Wendy, since you didn't include it I'm adding the link to Broken Places. I also have a quote for you:

    "It's so hard to forget pain, but it's even harder to remember sweetness. We have no scar to show for happiness. We learn so little from peace."
    ~ Chuck Palahniuk

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  7. Dave Early wrote a book, called 21 Reasons Why Bad Things Happen to Good People, and this is one of the reasons that he gives. The point he makes is that if you have not suffered, you cannot provide adequate and appropriate comfort to those who have. It makes sense to me. Interesting to see your post only a few hours after I read that.

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  8. Anne,

    So many times my family will ask the question "why you, Mom?"...and I always say "why not me?" when it comes to the physical hurts in my life. It does give me the ability to comfort others who are going through difficult physical hurts.

    God is so good at equipping us.

    Blessings to you!

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  9. Elizabeth, the biggest argument I hear against relationship with God is that a good God would not allow suffering. There are many reasons I know it to not be so, and I'm anxious to read the book. Thanks for mentioning it.

    Debra, I absolutely appreciate what you're saying. For years I asked "why me" as a whiner. Now I ask the question because of my amazement at God's incredible Favor in my life. Blessings back to you!

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  10. Anne, I came back. Oh, you knew I would. Thanks for the link and the wonderful quote from Chuck. I'll think on that one tonight.
    ~ Wendy

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  11. "How do we intimately know His comfort unless we have suffered?"

    Ain't THAT the truth!

    Great post, Anne.

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  12. Peter, how I wish there were an easier way to learn life's hardest lessons besides experience.

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