2 Corinthians 1:3, 4
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
Nearly every one of us will endure discomfort, mistreatment, disloyalty, medical issues, the passing of loved ones, financial setbacks, or such on this side of heaven. These life events leave us with many more questions than answers, especially when they settle in and start piling up. We can at first, tighten up, sketching out a timeline that puts things back in order, say by Friday. We chase it with an amazing prayer of faith and a positive confession in Small Groups and try to relax. But it’s not long before the question is “WHICH Friday?” Then a new problem occurs before the original one is resolved, and the question of “Why” begins to steal sleep, alter appetites, and bring out some impatience and anger issues which don’t go well on the job, let alone at home.
At this time comparison is apt to encroach on your thinking with the “Why them, and not us?” “Is she better than I am?” Then comes the big one, “God, what do you want? “I’ll give up anything, start or stop, anything, BUT PLEASE JUST TELL ME!”
Better read our verses one more time. God is the God of all comfort and He allows us to hurt so He can comfort us so we can comfort those in any affliction with the comfort He bestows on us.
“You mean my affliction and suffering aren’t really just about me, I’m being set up to learn how to help somebody else?” Affliction and suffering ARE necessary, so be grateful when someone reaches out to comfort you and they’re pretty good at it.