Whenever I have gotten a different car, all of a sudden I become aware of dozens of other people driving the same model car. It is also true that whenever I get sick or come into some kind of trouble, several other people who have had the same experience suddenly come forward. They offer me encouragement and support as I go through the season of suffering.
I don’t believe that these sets of common experiences are accidental. I believe that God directs these common experiences so that we can receive comfort from each other and so that we can comfort people with the encouragement and support that we have received.
II Corinthians 1:3-4 says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who 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.” Our God is the God of all comfort. He promises to comfort His children in ALL our troubles. He provides comfort out of His great mercies. The comfort may come directly from Him or He may choose to use other people to bring comfort to us.
We, then, have the responsibility to comfort others who suffer similar afflictions. Therefore it is incumbent upon us to remember God’s comfort and to be grateful for it. Then we will be of a mind to share encouragement and support with others.
Reluctant Retiree 