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Comfort Pulls The Camera Back


                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 have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort. (II Corinthians 1:3-7) 

          God comforts us in our troubles. Comfort given when there is no trouble is wasted. It’s like pouring water on the wood when the fire’s already been out for a week. According to this passage, one of the reasons for trouble is so that we can be comforted, and in being comforted, learn to comfort others. Your troubles aren’t only for your benefit.
          As I was thinking about comfort this morning, trying to decide whether I’ve said enough on the topic, and how to deal with a highly uncomfortable situation with my father, I stumbled on something that might be important. Comfort is a sort of love that builds hope. I think for me, one of the keys to comfort is for someone to help me see that now is not going to continue forever. Another way to put it might be that comfort is helping the person see beyond the pain that seems to be demanding all their focus. When you’re in pain, the whole world narrows to that pain. Comfort pulls the camera back.

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