2 Corinthians 1:3 - “Blessed be the God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies - and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation - that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort which we ourselves have been comforted by God.”
What's the one word that really stands out there? Comfort turns up five times!
It's God's nature to comfort. Notice it says: “the Father of Mercies, and the God of all Comfort”.
He's the Father (or the author) of mercy. He is deeply compassionate - all the time. He doesn't have: today I'm happy and compassionate; tomorrow I'm angry, and out to get you - it's not like that. He is full of compassion. He is very tender in His heart, and when we're in trouble - He loves us; feels tender feelings; and desire to engage and help us.
When the Bible's using the word mercy there, it's: the Lord is incredibly compassionate. Read how many times Jesus was ‘moved with compassion’. Now He's also called “the God of all comforts” - so His nature is to comfort.
His nature is to comfort. We're going to have to look what that means, because when we think ‘comfort’ - we need someone to put their arm around you, and “there, there, there, feel better”, and pat you on the back and have a good cry - here's a tissue, get on with it, you'll be alright. But it's not that! In fact, that actually can be incredibly harmful to people.
Biblical comfort has certain things to it that make it work, and that's why we want to see. God is the God of all comfort - so whatever situation that we find ourselves in, here's the one thing you can guarantee: God does not change, He's still a God of comfort, and He's a God of compassion. Because He's compassionate - He feels deeply for your distress, and because He's the comforter - He wants to do something to help you in your distress.
All comfort means: no matter what you're going through, you can rely on Him. You can't always rely on people, but you can always rely on Him. He never changes. It's God's nature to “come alongside”.
The word “to comfort” means literally: to come alongside someone who is in pain and feeling isolated, and to stand with them in their distress. The primary meaning of the word: come alongside someone.
Remember how we said that when you're in distress - the tendency is to look to the wrong places, become tormented by spirits, and isolate. Think about that - how many times you have felt isolated, alone. You aren't alone - God has not shut you off, and people haven't - it's all an illusion you get in your mind, when you're in pain.
The main problem of humanity is: we're disconnected from God - and God's heart is always reconciliation, to reconnect us. So any time you're isolated, God is thinking: how can I reach through to you - to enter into the pain you're having, and assure you that I am with you, and I'll walk through it with you?
“Now the God of comfort” - so the nature of God is to show mercy and comfort. Mercy - we're not going to judge and blame you because you're in a mess - even if it's your own making. He just wants to help you.
“He comforts us in all our tribulations, so we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort we ourselves have been comforted by God”.
1) God is willing to comfort you in every situation, even if it's a mess of your own making. Even if you totally messed up, and you're in the deep stuff because of it, He still wants to comfort you. That's a good thing to know, isn't it?