Comfort.

My church just started a sermon series on 2 Corinthians and a few weeks ago, we looked into the first chapter.  These few verses hit me - hard:

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God." 1:3-4

In November, it will be two years since my brother passed away and I am constantly thinking my own suffering.  But, very rarely do I think of using it for anything or for anyone else.  Losing Alex has changed me so much, but I cannot let the story end there.  Darkness should not be the only thing that comes out his loss.  This passage shows me that it is my responsibility to comfort others in any pain or suffering.  But, it's not a religious responsibility; it is response.  I know hurt and pain and loss and I feel it every single day BUT I have the Father of compassion and God of all comfort.  I feel that everyday too.  If there has been any constant in these last two years, it is that God is good and God is in control.  That is my comfort.  And I need to share that.

We live in such a fallen, broken world.  There is pain and suffering all around us.  And we have all felt it.  Let's go out there and show the world the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  

Seek God, be a blessing.