Many names and titles are used in the Bible to describe God. But if you are a pastor in ministry who is hurting one of the most precious titles is, "The God of all comfort."
He isn't the God of SOME comfort!
He isn't the God of MOST comfort!
He is the God of ALL comfort!
There is no struggle that you are facing in ministry, no hurt that you are feeling, that is beyond God's ability to comfort. Because He is the God of all comfort, He can, "Comfort us in all our affliction."
He isn't just able to comfort us in SOME of our affliction!
He isn't just able to comfort us in MOST of our affliction!
He is able to comfort us in ALL of our affliction!
BUT WAIT! What does God mean by "comfort"? When we are hurting we want to interpret comfort as "God fixes my situation." We want to define comfort as "God removes my adversity." But that is not what the word "comfort" means. The word literally means "to come along side." He is a God who "comes along side of us" in our affliction.
So maybe it's time to change the way we pray regarding "comfort" when we are hurting. Instead of praying, "God, fix my problem"; instead of praying, "God, take away my adversity"; maybe we should pray this,
"God, please come along side of me through this hurt. And when this affliction is over, whenever that is and however that looks, help me to be more in love with you; more in love with my spouse; more in love with the local church; and more in love with my calling. As much as this affliction hurts, please don't let it end until I have learned everything You want me to learn through it. And most of all, please stay right alongside of me for the entire journey. Amen."
feel free to leave a comment or email me at skdistler@gmail.com
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