God is the “Father of compassion and the God of all comfort”. These verses praise and thank God for his relentless comfort, even in the midst of troubles.
What we really want is to be comforted by the removal of troubles. We want God to solve our problems. To remove our struggles. And to eliminate our pain. Often, we choose a perspective that comfort means removing pain.
But God doesn’t do this. He comforts in our pain. His comfort is in all our troubles. God does not comfort by the removal of difficult circumstances. He comforts by the revelation of His Presence with us. A change of circumstance, prompted by God, is not our true path to comfort. Real comfort is in the presence of Jesus, regardless of the circumstances.
And that, even more than the removal of trouble, is what we really want. What we are truly after.
The second half of today’s passage adds on to this. It gives us an invitation to extend the comfort that has been extended to us. To participate and share in His Presence. We can comfort those in any trouble, just as God comforts us. We do not have to be the problem solvers or the pain removers. We comfort by relationship. By being with one another.
The great magic of the kingdom of God is in its relationships. Our relationship with God and our relationship with one another. Community, fellowship, has the power to transcend circumstances.