2 Corinthians 1:3-4
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.

It seems a main goal of some people in life is to be comfortable.  They want to make a comfortable living, where they make enough money to pay for necessities and then some.  People want a comfortable home, comfortable furniture, comfortable clothes.  We want to feel comfortable around other people and be comfortable in our own skin.  Often when people are in the end stages of life, suffering from a fatal disease or injury, they will be given comfort measures to make their last moments less painful and more bearable.

But the idea of comfort goes beyond just feeling good.  It is a deeper sense of strength, hope and encouragement—meeting a deep-seated need where an emptiness or a darkness abides.  Our Father is the God of all comfort.  Only in Him and through Him can we find true relief and soul-satisfying comfort.  He gives the comfort of forgiveness to the weary sinner, the comfort of peace to the troubled soul, and the comfort of joy to the grieving heart.  In the worst trials we will face in life, His mercy descends upon us.  He eases our burdens and our pain.  He fills in the gaps of our lives with His perfect love and strength.

In the darkest places in our lives, in the severest pain, when we feel all our strength and hope is gone, our Father of mercy is there to apply His healing salve to our broken hearts.  That is the true definition of comfort.  And our suffering doesn’t have to be in vain.  God allows us to use our own experiences to help others in their personal struggles.  It is a merciful part of our own healing process to be able to give comfort to someone going through a similar difficulty, and it is what God wants us to do.  In this way, we get a double dose of the kind of comfort that can pull us through the harshest tribulations of life.

Let’s seek God for the comfort He will provide whenever we are faced with hardships and trials.  Jesus Himself was well-acquainted with sufferings and sorrows of all kinds in His own life, and He understands what we are going through.  The comfort He can provide will apply to exactly the circumstances we are dealing with.  We have access to a sort of heavenly comfort that we can then share with those around us when they need it.  What a comforting thought to know we have this provision from our Father.