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 will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. (2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NASB1995)
As this passage from Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians says, the Lord is our Comforter in every hardship that we face. And He wants His children to comfort others when they face hardships, too. By comforting others like He comforts you, you can point them to Him. Here are three ways to do that:
1. Use life-giving words.
Just as God speaks to us through His Word when we’re suffering, we can share His Word with people when they’re suffering. You can send them texts (or cards) with encouraging Bible verses, or you can reference specific Bible verses in conversations with them. Share the life-giving truths of God’s Word with them to remind them where they can find true hope.
2. Listen well.
God listens to our prayers when we’re happy, but He also listens to our prayers when we’re stressed, angry, sad, frustrated, lonely, and scared. Be willing and ready to listen to people who are in pain—whether it’s physical pain or emotional pain. Maybe they just need a compassionate friend to talk to about what they’re going through and how they’re feeling.
3. Meet their physical needs.
God is always ready to provide for us, including in our seasons of suffering. It’s so important to meet the spiritual needs of people who are dealing with hard things, but it’s also important to meet their physical needs. Maybe you could buy gift cards for them, make meals for them, run errands for them, or take care of household tasks for them.
Closing Thoughts
Through everything, the Lord is with us. He never abandons us, and He always sustains us. Just as He is loyal to us, we need to be loyal to others. Even when the people we’re trying to help don’t seem to want our help, we need to be persistently kind. Though we can’t be anyone’s ultimate comforter, we can certainly point them to the One who is.
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