We are never left to fend for ourselves. God watches over us and directs us as we walk through whatever situation the world brings. Jesus left us the Comforter, Holy Spirit, to guide and protect us. Listen closely to His wisdom it will always guide us to be like His Son.
2 Corinthians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who 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. The New King James Version
We become His hand and feet to serve others.
James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
The Kingdom will come and we can count all our tribulations here as nothing compared to the joy we will receive.
Romans 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
The testing of our faith grows us in spiritual maturity. Hold fast to our faith and we will receive the crown of life that He gives to those who love Him.
Every good gift comes from above. Be swift to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger. We are doers of His word.
God will make all things new.
Matthew 19:27 Then Peter answered and said to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?” 28 So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.
Christ towards the end of His earthly ministry was asked by the apostles what would be their reward in the end. Jesus told them those who followed Him in the regeneration would be rewarded.
Acts 3:19 19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, 20 and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, 21 whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.
Peter appealed to the nation of Israel to repent and accept their Messiah and be converted so that their sins could be forgiven and the times of refreshing would come from the presence of the Lord. Whom heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things which God spoke by the prophets.
Psalm 2:6 “Yet I have set My King On My holy hill of Zion.” 7 “I will declare the decree: The Lord has said to Me, ‘You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.
Paul alludes to a Jewish expression of praise called the barakhah, the Hebrew word for “blessing”. Paul praises God for His provision of comfort during hardship. The Greek word Paul uses here, paraklēsis (and the corresponding verb parakaleō), occurs 10 times in 2 Corinthians. It typically refers to encouragement or consolation given to someone who is suffering or in mourning. Faithlife Study Bible
Blessed expresses adoration and praise.
Paul called God the God and Father of Christ. Even though Jesus is God, as the incarnate Son He was dependent on God the Father. Thus God the Father was His God.
Comfort here means “exhortation,” “encouragement,” “cheer.” Paul used this word, sometimes translated “consolation,” ten times in the following five verses (3–7). This is the purpose of our gathering in the church. When they meet, believers should encourage each other in the faith.
Tribulation means distress or affliction. God comforts us not only to make us comfortable but also to make us comforters. The comfort that God gives to us becomes a gift we can give to others. Our willingness to share it reflects the sincerity of our faith. The NKJV Study Bible
We are encouraged to come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. The Lord is able to give peace to the troubled conscience, and to calm the raging passions of the soul. These blessings are given by him, as the Father of his redeemed family.
It is our Saviour who says, Let not your heart be troubled.
All comforts come from God, and our sweetest comforts are in him. He speaks peace to souls by granting the free remission of sins; and he comforts them by the enlivening influences of the Holy Spirit, and by the rich mercies of his grace. He is able to bind up the broken-hearted, to heal the most painful wounds, and also to give hope and joy under the heaviest sorrows.
The favours God bestows on us, are not only to make us cheerful, but also that we may be useful to others. He sends comforts enough to support such as simply trust in and serve him. If we should be brought so low as to despair even of life, yet we may then trust God, who can bring back even from death. Their hope and trust were not in vain; nor shall any be ashamed who trust in the Lord.
Past experiences encourage faith and hope, and lay us under obligation to trust in God for time to come. And it is our duty, not only to help one another with prayer, but in praise and thanksgiving, and thereby to make suitable returns for benefits received. Thus both trials and mercies will end in good to ourselves and others. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Isaiah 51:12
“I, even I, am He who comforts you.
Who are you that you should be afraid
Of a man who will die,
And of the son of a man who will be made like grass?
Isaiah 66:13
As one whom his mother comforts,
So I will comfort you;
And you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.”
Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
God, You are mighty in power. You created the world and everything in it. As we look around, it can be easy to be distracted by what we see, to be impressed by man-made marvels. But all good things come from You. Great cities and empires come and go, but You alone, Lord, are steady forever. Your Kingdom is the only one that has no end. Thank You for allowing us to be a part of Your eternal Kingdom through faith in Jesus.First5
You know, there are times in life when everything you have to offer is nothing compared to what you are asking to receive. The situation is starkly simple: Jesus knows the future. And Jesus, who loves to give new beginnings, goes to give it. Do you face an uncertain future? Ask Jesus to help you. Max Lucado
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