Comfort and Mercy

II Cor. 1:3-5

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 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. For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.

I bless God for His comfort and mercy! But at the same time I remember that He is not only the God and Father of all comfort and mercy, but He is also the God of affliction, justice, and judgment.  Would comfort and mercy mean anything without affliction, adversity, disease, persecution, etc.? No, there would be no reason for comfort and mercy. His comfort allows us to comfort others because we have experienced the same comfort ourselves. The principle is: as believers share abundantly in His sufferings so through Christ they share abundantly in His comfort. This is the abundant life, not the absence of suffering because we are His children or because He is the God of love, but instead the comfort and mercy to handle this suffering. It is all through Christ! Through Christ I live and die, I suffer and am comforted, and I share in other's sufferings  and their comfort! Why all this suffering and comforting? The answer is simple: so that we rely not on ourselves but on God...On Him I set my hope! God wants my complete and utter dependence!

Father,
As I face these health obstacles, I declare my dependence on You. I need Your comfort and mercy at this time. Like Jesus said, Let the cup pass from me, but if not Your will. Unite my heart to fear Your name. Mold my mind with Yours. May I be strengthened with all power, according to Hi glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy.
In His name,
Amen