Comfort and Encouragement

UV 3709/10000 Instruments of Comfort and Encouragement Who comforts and encourages us in every trouble so that we will be able to comfort and encourage those who are in any kind of trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 2 Corinthians 1 v 4 God is One who comforts us in every situation. He is the great encourager. We, the believers are both partners in suffering and in the comfort the Lord provides us. Often, we go through many troubles in life and are comforted by the Holy Spirit who is called the Comforter. We are to take the same comfort and pass it on to the others who are suffering in many ways. It might involve praying for others in trouble but praying without lifting a finger to help in some practical way is not effectual especially when it lies within our power or ability to do so. Among the early followers of Jesus, Barnabas stood out as one deeply involved in the ministry of comforting and encouragement. We need to emulate him especially now when many in different parts of the country and the world are deeply afflicted with covid, with job loss, financial distress, poverty. We need to pray to the Lord of all comfort to stretch His hand of comfort to such as these even as we do what lies with us to help and comfort the distressed. The Lord will give us wisdom to discern and grace to comfort and help the so afflicted. Often, we might not have an immediate solution to the problems faced by people but by lending an ear to listen, a heart to empathise, a shoulder to lean or to weep, we become instruments of comfort and encouragement to the discouraged that they would be able to move on and not give up. The Lord uses us as extensions of His own arms to reach, to embrace, to pat, to console the afflicted. We need to free up time and resources in our lives for this very useful function that the Lord has called us to perform. We need to look back at the times when the Lord sent people and angels and His word to comfort us and encourage us on our down and difficult days. We are only now passing on the kindness and grace we received.