"He’s the one who comforts us in all our trouble so that we can comfort other people who are in every kind of trouble. We offer the same comfort that we ourselves received from God." 2 Corinthians 1:4, CEB

The phone call ended, and my wife immediately began searching for plane tickets.  She had just heard from a lifelong friend that her marriage was coming to an end, and Debbie felt moved to give more than just long-distance encouragement.  It took a little rearranging of schedules and budgets, but it was what our friend needed the most.  How do you show support to your loved ones when they're going through a difficult time?  Maybe it's as simple as a timely text or phone call.  Maybe it's sending flowers or a card.  Maybe it's dropping everything to make sure your friend is not alone.  I'm sure our answers vary depending on the particular circumstances, needs, and unique relationships involved, but I wouldn't be surprised if the ways we most readily give support to others is a reflection of the ways we've most meaningfully received support from others.  Furthermore, according to 2 Corinthians 1:4, the way we give comfort to others can actually be a reflection of the way we receive comfort from God Himself.  So let's turn that previous question around a bit:  How does God show us HIS comfort?  And how can we imitate God's comfort in the ways we show support to others?

A COMFORT THAT IS CLOSE

The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Be encouraged! Just as you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so too you must testify in Rome.”  Acts 23:11, CEB

Paul had just returned to Jerusalem in obedience to the Holy Spirit's prompting and in hopes of building bridges between the Jewish Christians in Jerusalem with Gentile Christians in surrounding regions.  But all that peace-making effort was interrupted by an unfounded arrest and hasty trial in which Paul was nearly torn to pieces by his own countrymen (Acts 23:10).  The apostle was in need of encouragement, and God Himself gave it to him.  How?  By standing near the misunderstood, mistreated missionary.  It may have felt that every earthly support was far removed, but before speaking comfort to Paul, God simply "stood near" him.  It's a verb that emphasizes the proximity of standing, not just the posture of standing.  

When God supports us in our struggles, He personally demonstrates nearness.

That's why so many of the exhortations to "Fear not" throughout Scripture are based upon this rationale, "for I am with you" (Isa. 41:10).  

If this is how God supports us in our seasons of difficulty, we can do the same.  Like the God who stands near us, we can come close to our hurting friends.  We may not always feel like we have the right words or wisest counsel to share with others, but in those moments let's not underestimate the power of our presence.  Don't hesitate to make that visit, to enter that hospital room, to invest the time and effort to be near even if you don't have a clear script of what to say when you're together.  Comfort through closeness is of heavenly origin and eternal impact.

A COMFORT THAT SPEAKS PURPOSE

One night the Lord said to Paul in a vision, “Don’t be afraid. Continue speaking. Don’t be silent. I’m with you and no one who attacks you will harm you, for I have many people in this city.”  Acts 18:9-10, CEB

Once again, Paul experienced rejection by the Jewish community but this time in the faraway city of Corinth.  And once again, Paul received God's comfort in a nighttime visitation.  This time, however, God's comfort didn't come primarily through the assurance of divine proximity but the assurance of divine purpose.  After the slanderous opposition he met in Corinth, the apostle could have questioned whether he was in the right place or doing the right thing.  The problems and pain we encounter in life have a way of casting doubt on our purpose and place.  Is this what I'm supposed to be doing?  Is this where I'm supposed to be?  Whatever those doubts sound like in our unique struggles, I'm so thankful that the God who stands near is also the God who speaks purpose.  He's the One who knows the plans He has for us, plans to give us a hope and a future (Jer. 29:11).  For Paul, those plans meant staying the course, persisting in his efforts, and looking beyond his present failures to see God's grander perspective of eventual success.  

Again, if this is how God supports us in our seasons of difficulty, we can do the same.  

Like the God who speaks purpose to us, we can give remind our struggling friends of God's good plans.

This isn't permission to invalidate or minimize our friends' questions.  Instead, God's example of comfort empowers us to verbalize loving encouragement that helps our friends frame their present uncertainties in God's eternal perspective, reminding them that God has good plans to fulfill not just in spite of our difficulties but through them too.

The God of all comfort (2 Cor. 1:3) supports us through His abiding presence and promised purpose, and He invites us to reflect that kind of comfort in the lives of those we love too.  Let's be those who draw close to our hurting friends, demonstrating our care through proximity whether or not we have the right words to share.  And when we do sense God's leading, let's also be willing to give voice to God's promises, God's perspective, and God's purpose.