2 Corinthians 1:3-4, “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforted us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”
In John 16:33, Jesus Christ told us that “in this world ye shall have tribulation” and it is evidenced by the experiences of the children of promise in this present time, that this statement still stands true in the year 2023. There are many ways the children of God are troubled. But there is no trouble the child of grace could face that the Lord is not able to comfort and help. In this effort I have listed just a few ways the Lord has helped and comforted this sinner in his times of trouble.
(1) Experiencing the condemnation of sins. Every person who has ever lived in this world, besides Jesus Christ, is a sinner by nature. Given enough time, everyone will show that nature by the action of sin. But it will require a work of grace for any person to see themselves as a sinner. Without God’s grace, we all are depraved sinners that are “darkness” (Eph 5:8) and in darkness. When a covenant child of God is regenerated, the light of grace enters into their hearts, allowing them to see and feel their sin. If you, dear reader, feel to be condemned because of sin, be of good cheer, it is evidence that you are saved by grace. The Lord helps His children in the gospel and in His Word to understand this truth and be comforted that they are the children of God.
(2) Suffering the afflictions and pains of this world. The sorrows that are experienced in this world because sickness and disease are devastating, to say the least. I cannot remember the number of times that I’ve spoken to someone who has been crushed by the news that they or one of their close friends or relatives had been diagnosed with cancer. But the Lord comforts us in “all our” tribulations and troubles. What a blessing it is to know that anything that we suffer in this world is only temporary at best. The Apostle Paul teaches us that “the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Rom 8:18). What a great blessing it is to know that we may suffer for a little while, but everything is going to turn out peaceful, for David said in Psalms 30:5, “weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” Hallelujah to Jesus, that our sorrows will end, but our rejoicing in the glory land above will be forever.
(3) Suffering the sadness and sorrows of death. Death is something we all have to deal with in this world. Since sin entered into the world by Adam’s transgression, every generation has witnessed its painful sting. But thanks be to God, that in His precious Word, He gives us peace in knowing that death is not a finality, but simply a departure from this world to the world of heaven above (2 Tim 4:6, Phil 1:23). Death is not a strong prison house of pain, but a rest, a falling asleep of the body when the soul and spirit goes home to be with the Lord (2 Cor 5:8, 1 Cor 15:51). Death is not the end for the Lord shall return and call the bodies of the saints out of the graves, and their bodies shall be joined again with their spirit and soul, and “so shall we ever be with the Lord (1 Thess 4:17). Amen!