Comforted!

Comforted!

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 2 Corinthians 1:3‭-‬4 NIV

We know it is good to praise God, and we are sure of the many reasons why we should. We recall all His mighty works and his awesome deeds and we also testify, both in public and private, about the things He has done or is doing in our lives. Today's extract just gives another perspective to the 'praise' requirement, and it speaks from the view that even when things are tough and rough, God still deserves praise.

Check out the reason why praise is required in today's extract: God comforts us in all our troubles. First, He allows us go through trials and tribulations, then sometimes, rather than deliver us from them, He gives amazing strength, power and wisdom in dealing with them. The story of men like Daniel in the lions' den and the 3 Hebrew men in the fiery furnace keep reminding me that God's ultimate aim isn't so much about my earthly comfort but my earthly impact and eventually, my eternal destination.

He brings tests so He can build capacity & strength in me. He allows trials so He can take my eyes off external dependencies and cause me to focus on Him alone. He also knows that it is from His dealings with me that I can reach out and touch the world around me. How do I make a change in my world if I myself have not been changed? What do I offer the world if Christ has not first worked in me?

That's the conclusion of today's extract. The comfort God gives is a seed; it is for the benefit and blessing of other people. When I allow God work in me, His Word will flow out as blessings to other people. When I speak out of God's dealings, the world must sit up and take notice. Has God been able to deal with self and sin in me? Is His voice my one and only consideration? God wants to touch the world; am I a vessel He can deal with and work through? His time of favour is here.