II Corinthians 1:3 “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; 4 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.”
Our lives are often tormented with “tribulation”; that is, those dreadful troubles that press us down in mind, spirit, soul, and body. In his “tribulation”, the Psalmist pleaded for “mercy”; crying, “I am in trouble: mine eye is consumed with grief, yea, my soul and my belly” (Psalms 31:9) and declared “In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted.” (Psalms 77:2). While we sometimes suffer and moan with misery in the midst of our dreadful “tribulation”; let us remember that our “God” is “the God of all comfort” “Who comforteth us in all our tribulation”! The phrase “all comfort” means “comfort” in any way that is necessary; for the type of “tribulation” that we are experiencing dictates the kind of “comfort” that we need. The phrase “all our tribulation” refers to any type of “tribulation” that is thrust upon us. The point is, no matter what our “tribulation” is, our merciful and gracious “God” knows exactly what we need to “comfort” us. When our Lord comforts us, He reaches down and Spiritually draws us close to Him and He consoles and helps us, saying such things to our soul as “stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD” (Exodus 14:13) and “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalms 46:10) and “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28). Our Lord is indeed our “Good Shepherd” (John 10:11, 14) and He will never forsake His beloved “sheep”; for, He is always the most faithful “friend that sticketh closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24). This blessed “friend” is the Sovereign, Almighty God and He has power over all things, even all our tribulations!