The Culture of Hope Founded on Faith
The God of All Comfort
The Bible reveals many character-reflective titles for God. Among my favorite and most used is found in 2 Corinthians 1:3-5. Paul declares “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort who comforts 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. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds by Christ.” Times of tribulation are training ground for us to be able to pass the blessing of His comfort on to others.
Not only is He our Comforter, but He also upholds and helps us. Psalm 63:7-8 states that “Because you have been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice. My soul follows hard after you. Your right hand upholds me.” His support and help in our lives, especially during the hard times, increases our faith in Him based on the knowledge of how He has helped us in past situations.
He is also our Refuge and Strength. Psalm 46:1-3 says: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will we not fear though the earth be removed, though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea, though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.” After listing some other specific mighty works of God, the Psalmist says, “Be still, and know that I am God” (Ps. 46:10a). How can we not abide silent before Almighty God, breathlessly awaiting what comes next and worshiping Him, when we see His magnificent works, not only in our own lives, but also in the world around us.
Paul echoes the fearlessness of our position in Christ in 2 Timothy 1:7,12b: “For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, of love, and of a sound mind… for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” Such confidence is the outcome of recognizing God’s provision of salvation as it is outlined in 2 Timothy 1:8b-10: “the gospel according to the power of God who has saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began. But it is now made manifest by the appearing of our Savior, Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (see note below for the full text of the passage).
Note: Here is the full text of 2 Timothy 1:7-12: “7. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 8. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; 9. Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, 10. But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: 11. Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. 12. For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.”
