Joel M Bradshaw

3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4who 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.–2 Corinthians 1

I received a new mug for my birthday. Here is a photo I took of that mug as I began writing this very blog post you are reading. Some of you have your first cup of coffee or tea with me as I have mine

God comforts us when we need it. The verses in the Bible speak to our hearts and bring purpose and meaning to our situations. As a biblical counselor I see this again and again. I met with a woman at church just the other day. She was full of anger and bitterness. Her marriage was broken and she wasn’t a fan of God or other people. Yet as we started to read Scripture, the tears began to form on her face. The Bible was addressing her very need. She was receiving comfort from God’s Word. She left the counseling session wanting to make reading the Bible a part of her daily pursuit of discipline. She wanted to bring the words of our comforting God into her situation.

I journey with those who have lost loved ones. I travel with divorced people. I walk alongside addicts. Some of the most bitter and broken people find their way to me. What hope and comfort do I have to offer them? God has comforted me and now I share that comfort with them.

This is why I oversee a support group ministry. Griefshare, Divorcecare, Parents Praying for their Adult Children, Celebrate Recovery, Financial Peace University, Men’s Purity, Women’s Purity, Anxiety/Depression Support, CR Step Study Groups. These are all lead by teams who have received comfort and now share that comfort. People with ‘wounds’ tend to listen to people with ‘scars.’

There’s nothing like drinking coffee at a restaurant and the waitress filling or refilling that mug. See yourself as a cup and let God fill you with comfort. He will do so as you read the Bible. He will also do so as He brings comforting people to walk alongside you.

But see yourself also as a pitcher. Some people never want to give back. They see themselves as always needing comfort and they keep getting their cup filled. Part of spiritual maturity is pouring out the comfort you have received from God into the cups of other people. You know you have moved forward in your grief journey, for example, if you are able to be a pitcher and not just a cup. That was Paul’s challenge to the Corinthian church.

1. Receive comfort from God through the Bible, in times of prayer, and as other Christians come alongside you.
2. Share the comfort you have received with others God brings to you.
3. Find joy and purpose in where God has led you on your journey.–JMB