Three Things We Can Learn in Suffering!

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Praise to the God of All Comfort

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 5 For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. 
As Paul begins chapter 1 of his second letter to the Corinthians, he puts some of the sufferings and trials he has gone through in perspective.  First of all, despite all of his troubles, he maintains an attitude of praise toward God.  It is easy to praise God when things are going well, but Paul shows his deep love for God by praising him even during the tough times.  Does Paul praise God because he kept from experiencing any pain or discomfort?
Paul praises God because God comforted him in his trials and sorrows. He didn't leave, forsake or abandon him. The word for "comfort" in the original language means to "make strong" or "brave".  We know from other passages that the Holy Spirit is also called the "Comforter".  But the idea is that although God doesn't take away our trials, he helps us to stand up under them with His help.  
Not only does God comfort us in our affliction, but he uses us to comfort others with the same comfort we have received.  This is the way that God can redeem suffering.  I don't believe God causes suffering.  But He allows it and uses it to draw people closer to him, so they can comfort each other.  After all, the ultimate suffering came when Jesus, God's Son, died on the cross. Jesus died a cruel and inhumane death to set us free from the penalty of sin.  His suffering brought us the forgiveness of sin and eternal life.  And remember God the Father allowed his Son to suffer so that His ultimate purpose of salvation for all people to be accomplished.
Are you suffering today?  Remember God cares for you.  Allow the Holy Spirit to comfort you in your suffering.  Allow Jesus to carry the burden you cannot carry.  And as you are encouraged and made strong, you can comfort others who are also suffering.  God can use all things that happen to us for good we seek His comfort and then share that same comfort with others.  While there is no easy explanation for suffering, we can know three truths.  
First, God suffers with us and never leaves or forsakes us.  Second, God can use our suffering to help others who are suffering as well. Third, as we suffer and continue to trust in God we are become more like His Son, which is our ultimate goal as Jesus' disciples.      

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