Fellowship of Sufferings
Paul and Timothy had suffered much for the gospel of Christ. They had been physically, mentally, and emotionally abused. Though they knew that their lives were a living sacrifice for the gospel and they were willing to lose it all, the fact remained that they felt actual pain and needed comfort. The Spirit of God was with them through it all and gave them His peace when they needed it most. Paul knew that the very way in which the Lord comforted them was an example of how they should comfort others.
When my son Judah was a baby the pediatrician encouraged us to help him form an attachment to something that would comfort him when we were not around. I read somewhere that I could sleep with a small blanket to get my scent on it, and then give it to him so that he would feel safe and comforted when he was away from us. It actually worked.
From the time we are small children we are very aware of our need to be comforted. It is a safe bet that everyone on the planet has been hurt in some way, some of us in horrific ways. The Lord offers us the same comfort that He gave Paul when he was in prison for the gospel. When He allows us to experience pain, we then can identify with others in their sufferings. The suffering you go through and the comfort He offers you through His Spirit allow you to minister to others in a way that no one else could. Just as the blanket bore my scent and comforted Judah, the scent of God’s comfort rubs off on us and we then get to carry that to others who are hurting. He made it that way so we would depend on one another and find value in our sufferings. His comfort is free and it is freely offered to the world through us, His chosen ministers.
Father, please use the pain I have gone through in my life to comfort others. Use what You have taught me through my pain to love others in pain who do not know You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
