Conduits of Divine Comfort

I've recently embarked on a study in 2 Corinthians put together by Sam Storms. In the second part of the study, Storms breaks down 2 Cor. 1:3-7.

3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4who 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. 5For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. 6If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. 7Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.

How often do we adopt this attitude in the midst of suffering? Probably not that often if we're being honest. When we go through tough times, whatever they may look like, we expect other people to come to our aid, to comfort us, rather than us thinking about how we can be comforting others. Storms points out that two questions often come to our minds when walking through some type of suffering:

1. Why me?
2. Doesn't anybody care?

Paul lays out two very contrary questions that should in the text above:

1. Who else?
2. What for?

Storms explains that there is a quantitative and qualitative correspondence between the intensity of human suffering and the availability of divine comfort. It shows in the text that the apostle Paul was extremely confident that the comfort that God would provide in the midst of suffering would not only be enough to cover the issue at hand, but would be enough to mediate that God given comfort to others as well.

It is apparent also that Paul was aware of a divine design in his hardship.

"Look closely at Paul’s statement in v. 4 where he asserts that when God comforts us “in all our affliction” it is “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.”"

This is an amazing thing to think about. Paul had this incredible attitude that any trial, any suffering, any uncomfortable situation in his life had this divine purpose. Its purpose was to better equip Paul to comfort others in their time of need. Insane! I can honestly say that I haven't ever walked through any trial in my life with that attitude, but I can guarantee you that from here on out, that will be on my prayer list!

"Paul’s confession “calls into question the individualism of modern Christianity and the sense of remoteness within and among many contemporary churches" (Paul Barnett, 73)."

We have to adopt this attitude! All to often when bad things happen our natural reaction, as stated above, is to feel sorry for ourselves and expect sympathy from others. While empathizing with others is completely fine, I believe the person walking through the trial has two very important things to do;

"First, avail yourself of the corresponding comforts of Christ and, second, lift up your head, look around, and ask: “Who else, Lord?” "