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“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer. We are confident that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in the comfort God gives us.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 (NLT)

Life is hard. Beyond that, walking through this life is a constant battle because we’re up against this fallen world, our fleshly desires, and the enemy of our souls. Even as followers of Christ, we’re promised troubles in this world (John 16:33). People hurt us. Tragedy befalls us. Our own sin hinders our sanctification journey. Often, when we are weighed down, tossed about, or completely unraveled, we lift our “why” to the Lord (and others). We shout, “How long, Oh Lord?” We remind ourselves that God’s ways are higher than ours, His thoughts beyond our understanding (sometimes successfully hearing this self-talk, other times, not so much). But going through the fire still burns. And we never come out the other side completely unscathed. Scars remain—whether visible or not. Although the brokenness has healed, we may walk with a limp.

Even when a particular valley season is “done,” we may not get our heavenly reason. Can we eventually look back and see the Lord’s mighty hand of protection, direction, and mercy? I pray we do! Whether He walked beside us, carried us, or dragged us through it, Jesus never left us. Sometimes, we are given a revelation as to how desperate days glorified Him—it could be a few months later or decades. Perhaps we needed refining in a particular area. Or we can see that what the enemy intended for evil, the Lord intended for a much bigger and bolder Good. Maybe it led us out of the pigsty to a place of full surrender to the Lord.

In God’s Word, through the Apostle Paul (2 Corinthians 1:3-7), we’re given another profound answer to the cries of “why” through our storms: to prepare us to comfort others with the Providential comfort we’ve been given. In typical Paul fashion, these verses can be a bit wordy—but he leaves no room for confusion here. God is our source of comfort, joy, and satisfaction, no matter our circumstances. No amount of drink, drug, money, self-help, or self-harm will fully comfort or satisfy—only Christ and the confidence we have in our salvation. And it is through this comfort received that we can extend comfort to others. We can boldly proclaim, “I endured through Christ, and so can you!”

I was powerfully reminded of this recently when a neighbor was courageous enough to share a darkness she is walking through. (Mind you, she doesn’t know me well, but she and her husband know we are Christ followers…and so they trusted us as a safe place to land. This, friend, is another devo altogether—but you can probably see where I’d go with this!) It “just so happens” that I’ve walked the road she suddenly found herself on, stepping on the same shards of broken glass and wondering if my bloodied feet (and life) could heal. Oh, friend, I was able to comfort and encourage her because of my pain, giving grace and counsel I would otherwise be unable to extend had I not been through it. I was able to reveal my scars, once open wounds, now healed and strengthened. And I was able to assure her that those shards of brokenness can be restored into something beautiful.

When troubles come, beloved, lean into the comfort only God can provide. It’s quite alright to ask Him your “whys” (just look through Psalms—it’s a thing!). But please know that your trust in God, endurance, and comfort through your suffering holds a promised purpose when you’ve come through the other side: to help bring others through. Just be sure to look for those opportunities to comfort another…be brave and let Him use your story for His glory.

“Lord, thank You for the victories I have through You. Let me use my scars—and Yours—to comfort others, shining Your light of hope, grace, mercy, and love.”

For His Glory

Julianne Winkler Smith
TRBC Women’s Life