Comfort January 14, 2026
We don’t really know the extent of someone’s pain or hurt unless we’ve experienced it ourselves. We may say to someone grieving; ‘I know how you feel,’ unless you’ve been in a similar situation and even then not completely for each person’s experience is unique.
Then there are the unique suffering and pain brought about by being a follower of Jesus Christ. For us, most of that will be emotional and mental. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. Paul is saying the painful experiences we endure open the door for us to bring comfort to others in similar situations. We can come along side and help ‘hold their stretcher’ by providing comfort, understanding, quiet listening and the ministry of presence (just being there).
Hardships can be so difficult that death appears to be a better alternative or it may appear one may not survive their suffering. 8b-9 We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself.Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. Paul reminds us that the pain we experience should result in relying on God for strength and not ourselves. Our pain should never push God away but move closer to Him. Paul adds; 11a you help us by your prayers. Prayer is something we should all be engaged in for one another, especially the hurting.
We will touch more in this as we look at Job during lent.
Pr. Bob Snitzer
By the Way:
Sunday 18, 9:00 Morning worship and Sunday school.
Today, 4:30 Confirmation class. 5:45 Deacon meeting. 6:30 Council Meeting.
Annual reports due January 25.
Past communiques and sermons can be read and heard on our website: www.pilotknob.org and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PilotKnobLutheran
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