3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,
4 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.
5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.
Everybody goes through stuff. In that stuff God comforts us. In other words, He consoles us and exhorts us. Inevitably in life we eventually will cross paths with somebody going through exactly what we went through. God will use us then to comfort those people with the same comfort God used in our lives.
Brenda and I have a friend who lost a child many years ago. She has been on a journey of self discovery. We recently had dinner with her family. She told us she knew her purpose. Part of her ministry is to comfort other grieving parents who have lost children to death. This is not a ministry most would sign up for. She not only embraces it but she is great at it. We have another friend who lost a daughter. She started a whole ministry for people who lose children die at birth. She intentionally targets those parents coming home with empty arms when they expected to come old with a new life. She is comforting others with the comfort she received personally.
Widows and widowers know how to best minister to other widows and widowers. Divorcees can minister and comfort others going through divorce in a way people who have not experienced that can. People delivered from addiction can minister to others battling addiction. There are so many other examples. Broken pastors can minister to other broken pastors.
I have written this before. God does not waste pain. He can use our pain for His good. Isn't that just a small part of what Romans 8:28 means?
Romans 8:28 (NKJV)
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Out of pain and tragedy God can bring good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.
Brenda and I have known financial hardships. We have also experienced God's faithful provision. We can identify with people struggling financially. We can point them to a Father who has all the provision they will ever need. We can testify of what He has done for us to encourage others.
My two y youngest sons have suffered knee injuries. They know the physical pain from injury. They know the psychological pain from rehabilitating and fighting through bitterness at missing entire seasons. They have also been able to comfort others injured. Recently two girls suffered the same type injuries as our boys on the same night. Tucker and Turner can be effective ministers to those girls.
I don't know what you are going through. I also do not know what God has already brought you through. Be on the look out. Someone who crosses your path just very well may need to receive that same comfort God gave you in your tribulation. You have the ministry of comfort. Use it for His glory.
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