Comfort That Overflows
06/17/2025
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”
- 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV)
When life breaks us open with grief, loss, or discouragement, we often feel like we’re the only ones going through it. In the rawness of our pain, we may even wonder where God is. But today’s verse reminds us that not only is God present in our trials, He is the very source of comfort in them.
Paul calls God “the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort.” That’s not a distant deity watching from the clouds. That’s a loving Father who runs toward His hurting children, wraps them in His arms, and sits with them in their pain. And He doesn’t just bring temporary relief, He brings a sustaining, healing comfort that has a purpose beyond our own healing.
I once sat across from a man in our church who had lost his son in a tragic accident. With tears in his eyes, he said, “The pain doesn’t leave, but God has used it. Every time I see someone going through loss, I know exactly what they need. I don’t just tell them it’ll be okay, I show up. I stay. I listen.” That’s what Paul is describing: comfort received becomes comfort shared.
It’s the beautiful cycle of God’s grace. We are comforted not just to be consoled, but to become conduits of compassion to others. Like rivers that flow and refresh, not ponds that stagnate, our healing is meant to move outward.
Maybe you’ve been through a storm, depression, betrayal, cancer, bankruptcy, divorce, and you’ve come out the other side. That journey wasn’t wasted. God wants to use your story to walk someone else home through their storm.
Here are some things you can do today to help you on your journey.
Reflect on a time when God comforted you. Write it down.
Look around, who in your life is hurting right now? Reach out to them this week.
Offer your story, your presence, or even a prayer, not to fix them, but to walk with them.
My challenge for you is this:
Be someone’s comfort today. Let your past pain become someone else’s present peace.
Father of compassion, thank You for meeting us in the depths of our sorrow. Thank You for not turning away from our tears but stepping into them with grace. Help us to never waste the comfort You’ve given. Open our eyes to those around us who need to experience Your love through us. Use our scars to bring healing. Use our story to offer hope. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Pastor Jeff
#LoveGod #LovePeople #FindFreedom #FindYourDesign
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”
- 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV)
When life breaks us open with grief, loss, or discouragement, we often feel like we’re the only ones going through it. In the rawness of our pain, we may even wonder where God is. But today’s verse reminds us that not only is God present in our trials, He is the very source of comfort in them.
Paul calls God “the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort.” That’s not a distant deity watching from the clouds. That’s a loving Father who runs toward His hurting children, wraps them in His arms, and sits with them in their pain. And He doesn’t just bring temporary relief, He brings a sustaining, healing comfort that has a purpose beyond our own healing.
I once sat across from a man in our church who had lost his son in a tragic accident. With tears in his eyes, he said, “The pain doesn’t leave, but God has used it. Every time I see someone going through loss, I know exactly what they need. I don’t just tell them it’ll be okay, I show up. I stay. I listen.” That’s what Paul is describing: comfort received becomes comfort shared.
It’s the beautiful cycle of God’s grace. We are comforted not just to be consoled, but to become conduits of compassion to others. Like rivers that flow and refresh, not ponds that stagnate, our healing is meant to move outward.
Maybe you’ve been through a storm, depression, betrayal, cancer, bankruptcy, divorce, and you’ve come out the other side. That journey wasn’t wasted. God wants to use your story to walk someone else home through their storm.
Here are some things you can do today to help you on your journey.
Reflect on a time when God comforted you. Write it down.
Look around, who in your life is hurting right now? Reach out to them this week.
Offer your story, your presence, or even a prayer, not to fix them, but to walk with them.
My challenge for you is this:
Be someone’s comfort today. Let your past pain become someone else’s present peace.
Father of compassion, thank You for meeting us in the depths of our sorrow. Thank You for not turning away from our tears but stepping into them with grace. Help us to never waste the comfort You’ve given. Open our eyes to those around us who need to experience Your love through us. Use our scars to bring healing. Use our story to offer hope. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Pastor Jeff
#LoveGod #LovePeople #FindFreedom #FindYourDesign
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