God does not comfort us to make us comfortable, but to make us comforters. (John Henry Jowett)
back it up with bible
Galatians 6:2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
Proverbs 27:9 Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel.
2 Colossians 1:4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
Romans 5:3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience.
core christianity
People Grace
God often uses angels to minister to people. But mostly, he uses his own caring people to dispense his grace. This is one reason we’re made partakers of his grace: to become channels of it. We are meant to dispense it to others.. I call this “people grace.” “Unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ” (Ephesians 4:7). Because of the comfort we’re given through God’s grace, it is impossible for any of us to continue grieving our whole lifetime. At some point, we are being healed by the Lord and we begin to build up a reservoir of God’s grace.
I believe this is what Paul meant when he wrote, “I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me… that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ” (Ephesians 3:7-8). “Ye all are partakers of my grace” (Philippians 1:7). The apostle is making a profound statement. He’s saying, “When I go to God’s throne to obtain grace, it is for your sake. I want to be a merciful shepherd to you, not a judgmental one. I want to be able to dispense grace to you in your time of need.” God’s grace made Paul a compassionate shepherd, able to weep with those who grieved.
Peter writes, “As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God” (1 Peter 4:10). What does it mean to be a good steward, or dispenser, of God’s manifold grace? Am I such a person? Or do I spend my time praying only for my own pain, grief and struggles? Beloved, our present sufferings are producing something precious in our lives. They are forming in us a cry for the gift of mercy and grace, to offer to others who are hurting. Our sufferings make us want to be grace givers. (David Wilkerson)
previously published
The Lord said that the purpose for trials is not only to purge us & make us better vessels, but also so we can be comforted & then we can “comfort others with the comfort wherewith we’re comforted.” (2Cor.1:4) I think a lot of us say, “OK, Lord, some day when someone needs it, then I’ll be able to use this lesson to comfort them.” But we don’t realise that one way to comfort others is by sharing the things we’ve learned along the same line & that maybe we can comfort them now, before they actually need it! Why should we keep the lessons for the future? We can comfort others in advance so that perhaps they won’t have to be so comforted later! If we share these lessons now, when the time comes they may have already learned it & it will be a comfort to others.
We go through these tests and trials to purge us & to make us better vessels to make us more fit for His use & more humble & more loving, but He also does it so we can teach others the same lesson, “to comfort others with the comfort wherewith we are comforted.” (2Cor.1:4)
We’re going through these trials for a purpose & the Lord is using them to grow us up. He’s turned up the fire & things have gotten hotter. He’s purging us & we’re having to look to Him to pull us through.--And He is! He’s giving us so many victories! He’s healing our wounds, He’s comforting us & now we can turn around & comfort others. (Sharing Lessons Together!)
This is a great honor that I bestow upon you! I am honoring you with these tests especially tailored to meet your needs, so that you may grow into a sturdy, strong vessel of My love. And through this, when the time is come, you will be able to comfort others with the same comfort that I will now comfort you with as you lie here in My arms. Rest in My arms and allow Me to woo you and soothe you and whisk away all the would-be troubles and burdens of your heart. Fear not, for this is a compliment of My love! For if I did not know you the way I do, and love you so, I could not trust you with so great and so high an honor as this--the honor of shaping you into My pure vessel of love! I am forming and fashioning you into a beautiful, ornate, golden vessel of My love, a pearl of great price, a beautiful vessel that will glow and shine with My glory and splendor for all the world to see! (From Jesus with Love 2)
make it personal
Jesus, please show me some ways that I can be more of an encouragement to my brothers and sisters and friends, and specifically how you use the experiences that I go through and lessons that I learn to make me more understanding of others.
