Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 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. (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)

Ever been between a rock and a hard place? Hemmed in? Under pressure?

Tribulation and affliction are a part of the human experience. We are sinners and sin has affected us and everyone and everything around us. The result? This isn’t an easy place to live, sometimes from our own doing, sometimes from the doing of others and sometimes simply because we live in bodies of clay. But in our tribulations there is always Divine purpose.

For example, it is in the midst of affliction that we experience the mercies and comfort of the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. There we receive the compassion and encouragement of our heavenly Father. We learn what it means to experience the care of God when we are tempted to think no one cares.

God’s gracious purpose in our lives is to comfort us, but also that we, having experienced such kindness, will ourselves be so gracious to others experiencing tribulation. Indeed the full experience of God’s comfort is not known until that comfort is shared.

So don’t waste the pain you have suffered and the comfort you have received. Rather today see the hurt in another’s eyes and share the encouragement of God with them.