Comforted!

Comforted!

Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. 2 Corinthians 1:3‭-‬4 KJV

The Context and Focus:

Paul, who wrote this letter to the church in Corinth, would know what he was talking about. Here was a man who himself had received God's mercy, and responded the right way. He had become an instrument in the hands of God to preach the gospel to the Gentiles, and through him, God did mighty miracles in the land. In this same letter, Paul referred to 'a thorn in his flesh, a messenger of Satan, sent to torment him'. How did a man who was mightily used by God become prone to the messenger of Satan? This is one of the amazing things about God, who can use any experience to promote his purpose. When you read about the life of Paul, you know quite clearly that his life is a classical example of what grace and mercy can accomplish in any life that is surrendered to God. With the thorn in his life came total dependence on God for strength, guidance and help. You just have to wonder what could have happened if there were no thorns, no stress or no issues in the life of Paul. Would he still be so dependent on the grace of God? Would there be pride in his achievements? Whatever it was, God, in his wisdom, had so planned it that what He supplied would be all that Paul would need to do the work that God had ordained. 

The Message:

As I also seek to walk with and work for God, what are the things that have become so important to me that I cannot do without?  What would I go with as I walk with God? Are His provisions sufficient for the work, or are there things that have become distractions on my walk with God? At least two of the things God has provided for my walk with Him are listed in the verses above, and they are His mercies and comfort. I note the mercies are in plural form, to show that there are no limits to what God is able to provide. I also note that when I have received them, they bless my life so much so that I cannot keep them to myself alone. I am yet to find a single person whose life enjoyed God's mercies and comfort and was not equally a blessing to his generation. It may have been to one person at a time, but God's mercies are such that cannot be kept hidden for too long. The impact will such that will change my life, and also influence my pursuits and priorities. It is also interesting to note that the best platform for the evidence of God's mercies and comfort are tribulations and tough times. There has to be something divine about God's grace at work, that turns a mess into a message, or broken property into an amazing work of art. 

The Conclusion:

In my hands, a tennis racquet is ordinary; in the hands of a pro like Rafael Nadal or Serena Williams, it is a piece of art. It matters in whose hands that situation is being used. There is no situation so dire that God cannot use to his own end. Everything he allows has been carefully calibrated to ensure that it will lead to the fulfilment of God's purpose and plan. God is like the pharmacist who knows the right medication, dosage and frequency to be applied in any situation he brings me to, as he knows what I have capacity to bear. When I have received from God, my life becomes a processing and application centre, where the lessons of God's grace and mercies are first personal, before they become public. They are of not much use to the public until my life has been tested and approved by God. There is a time-honoured principle of life that says that 'you cannot give what you don't have'. If you do not know what it is, or how it looks like, how can I testify about its impact upon my life? How would it then be a point of impact to other people? Because God has given me grace to walk this path before, I am now the channel of blessing to the world before me. The critical thing is to determine who I am, and what I have access to. If God is for me, nothing can stand in my way. God's time of favour is here.