It's Sunday evening, and I've been thinking about the idea of comfort vs comfortable. For quite some time I've thought about how uncomfortable my life has been. In the last 15 years, God has been deleting the idea that if I was a good Christian my life would be comfortable, and reinstalling the truth; God is the God of all comfort. He promised to be our comfort, but He didn't promise to make us comfortable.
I think most Americans are confused. We operate from the perspective that God works everything out for the "comfort" of those who are called according to His purpose. But that's not how the God of the Bible works. Here is a passage I believe will help us better understand why being comfortable isn't God's goal for us:
"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 have received from God." (2 Corinthians 1:3,4)
Two things strike me about this: "in all our troubles," and "so that we can comfort those in trouble." We can expect all sorts of troubles, but we can also expect Him to comfort us SO That we can comfort others in their troubles. (Ever notice how many So Thats there are in the scriptures?)
The more I come to know Christ, the more I realize how much of this whole journey is not about me. It's not about what I'm thinking, feeling, or going through at any particular moment. It's really about how much I love God and in turn love others, much more than it is about me being comfortable.
I'm not particularly fond of troubles, and I don't think God likes them either. His heart breaks for us when our heart is broken. But, being the God of ALL comfort gives Him an advantage. And being His children means we have access to all the comfort we need. Sounds like a pretty good deal to me.
What does the difference between comfort and being comfortable look like in your life? Do you spend too much time and energy creating comfort for yourself? Is God asking you to take a step of faith that may leave you feeling uncomfortable?
How does this scripture speak to you? "
"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 have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort."
(2 Corinthians 1:3-7)
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Psalm 96:3,
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