3. The God of All Comfort

My Heart's Desire
Maynard A. Force
Chapter 3

The God of All Comfort

Blessed be the . . . God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our affliction, that we may be able to comfort them that are in any affliction, through the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. 2 Corinthians 1: 3-4.

The name ''God of all comfort'' is a wonderful introduction to God. It is a personal introduction made especially for our benefit.

God wants it known that He is "the God of all comfort." How sweeping this statement is! It means He has comfort enough for any situation in which we might find ourselves. It is foolish, then, to seek comfort elsewhere. Oh, for grace never to forget that our God is the "God of all comfort''! This truth is one that is hard to retain. It seems that in a time of testing, the very atmosphere is charged with forgetfulness. Clouds form that dim the majestic presence of our God. But as clouds can never remove the mountains, although they may hide them for the time being, so neither can clouds of sorrow remove the "God of all comfort." They merely hide Him for a time.

He "comforteth us in all our affliction." The apostle Paul had experienced this comfort. He could testify, "I am filled with comfort; I overflow with joy in all our affliction'' (2 Corinthians 7: 4). Can this be possible? Of course it can, for "God is able to make, all grace abound unto you; that ye, having always all sufficiency in everything, may abound unto every good work'' (2 Corinthians 9.8). How sad that so few people believe in the promises of God! Not only does He make these great promises, but He adds, "I watch over my word to perform it'' (Jeremiah 1. 12). He "is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think'' (Ephesians 3. 20). Therefore, when He offers us comfort, we may know that He can bestow it.

Our God "comforteth us in all our affliction." Let us take special notice of the little word "us"-- "comforteth us." It is one of the smallest of words, and yet big enough to include all who read these lines. Then, too, note the word ''all''-"in all our affliction." That includes any testing that may come our way. It would be a waste of words for our God to enumerate all the various afflictions in which He can give comfort. He merely includes them all in that one inclusive statement, "comforteth us in all our affliction." Then if there is any affliction in which we have not yet received comfort, it is because we have not turned ourselves over to the "God of all comfort." At times of intense testing, it is hard to believe that God can comfort us. We imagine our sorrow greater than the comfort that He may have. These thoughts are from the evil one, for they are contrary to the Word of God.

God comforts us so that we in turn "may be able to comfort them that are in any affliction." This we can only do when the cure is complete. Who would ever recommend to another medicine that failed to bring the desired results to himself? But how joyful it is to pass on a cure that works! The comfort cure from God is so complete that those who have experienced it are in a position to help them that are in ''any affliction." "Any affliction" includes all needs which call for comfort. This then is God's "cure-all," and should be quickly passed on to those in need. His messengers are those who have first been cured themselves.

Dear friend, you who feel your need of comfort, look to God. You are invited to "taste and see that Jehovah is good: blessed is the man that taketh refuge in him'' (Psalm 34.8). One of the names given to the Holy Spirit is "Comforter.'' The ''God of all comfort'' stands ready to handle your case. He alone can give you help. He has given us this introduction of Himself, that through the ''comfort of the scriptures we might have hope'' (Romans 15. 4).