“Tribulation” is a word that gets our attention, and rightly so. It’s not a pleasant thing to have in one’s life, is it? It evokes words and emotions of affliction, distress, trouble, suffering and sorrow, all of which may be felt in varying degrees. Every one of us experiences such things, just as Christ said would happen. It’s the antidote to these things that is the focus of this article.

For God’s people throughout the ages, including us now, it has been during times of tribulation that God provides a very special blessing or gift, which is simply the comforting that comes to us from our Father in heaven. In the way that God inspired His care for us when we are in a “tribulation” there is a spiritual principle that is a powerful and empowering element in our individual and collective journey toward the Kingdom of God.

The apostle Paul, a man who endured many tribulations during his long and effective ministry to Jesus Christ and His Church was inspired to write about many of the troubles he faced, and of God’s help to him during those trials. He also wrote of how this principle was learned and shared in the lives of the members of the church during his ministry, resulting in the strengthening of himself, many others and the Church as a whole.

This spiritual principle is clearly stated in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we are comforted by God” (emphasis added). Two main points to consider from this passage are (1) as our Father, God knows that one of the blessings that all of us need is to be comforted “in all our tribulation”; and, (2) this gift then becomes a blessing we can share with many others.

The attribute of being a comforter, one who is able to truly extend spiritual comforting and encouragement to others, is descriptive of God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord. In fact, the attribute of being a “Comforter” is so closely associated with God’s own character that the Holy Spirit is also called “…another Comforter…” (John 14:16, KJV).

Paul had felt this kind of comforting, and was passing it on to the church in Corinth. Notice the effect it had, because this is the same effect we can expect when we comfort those around us. He wrote “Great is my boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort. I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation. For indeed, when we came to Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side. Outside were conflicts, inside were fears. Nevertheless God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, and not only by his coming, but also by the consolation with which he was comforted in you, when he told us of your earnest desire, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced even more” (2 Corinthians 7:4-7).

Life is like that sometimes, isn’t it? No rest, trouble on every side, conflicts, fears, being downcast, these are things that are common to us all. But knowing that others cared, and that one of the brethren on behalf of all came to extend to him this spiritual blessing gave Paul spiritual strengthening and joy when he was in great need of just that.

One reason I’m writing about this subject is because I often talk with people who sincerely need to be comforted, because the trials of their life are hard. My purpose is to encourage each of us to be aware of this need, and to extend this blessing to as many as we can, just as the verses above teach.

Think about how others have comforted you when you really needed it. Remember how much better it made you feel, how much it encouraged you just to know that someone cared enough to notice that you needed a friend or brother to stand alongside you in a time of trial? Remember how being comforted by someone who loves you gave you strength and the ability to endure, and even to find joy in your troubles. When we are comforted, especially by someone who has God’s Holy Spirit and is sharing this spiritual blessing, we are strengthened, encouraged, edified, and more able to come through “any tribulation” with our faith not only intact, but increased.

Personal examples can help us to remember and appreciate that God comforts us often, and that we can, therefore, comfort others. I’ll share one such memory in my life, and ask that you meditate on how you have experienced spiritual comforting from God and others.

There was a time about 50 years ago when I learned a valuable lesson about the power of sincere comforting from my mother. My family was very poor, living in “third world” conditions, and often with very little to eat. My father was in a hospital for many months at a time, and when he was home, was not healthy enough to provide very well for our family of seven children. This was before food stamps and free school lunches were available, as is so common in the U.S. today.

There were numerous times when there simply was no food for my mother to prepare for our school lunches. At times like that, we literally had to “live off the land.” As the oldest boy in the family, I did all I could to help provide food and other necessities for my six siblings and parents.

As I was getting ready for school one morning, eating a small bowl of boiled corn meal for breakfast, she said she was sorry that there was no food for my lunch at school. She gave me some advice, as a way to comfort and encourage me. She said, “If you sip water slowly through the day, you won’t feel as hungry.” Lacking resources to provide a mid-day meal, she comforted me with her words, her caring tone and her love. And, I found that her advice did help a bit, on many occasions afterwards. More than that, I’ve come to realize that the comforting my mother gave me was even more important than a peanut butter sandwich would have been for my lunch on those days. Having done all she could in that “tribulation” which she also was enduring, she took the opportunity to extend the blessing of comforting. That simple act turned out to be one of the best lessons of my life.

God was good, as He always is, and eventually the principal of my school noticed that I and sometimes my siblings often went without lunch at school. He offered me a helping hand. If I would serve in the cafeteria, by washing dishes and cleaning, he would make sure that I and all my siblings had lunch every day at school. What an honor for me, and a blessing it was to my family! For me, one of the best parts of this experience was being able to comfort my mother, by sharing this good news with her that day when I came home from school.

This article won’t be complete without a call to action. Let’s make a conscious commitment every day to remember that in all our tribulations God is there to help, to provide, and to comfort us. Then, let’s make a conscious commitment, backed up with tangible action, to extend comforting to others.

Notice when there is a need in someone’s life. Sometimes the signs are subtle, but the need is great. Do what you can to fill the void that is there in the lives of others. Sometimes it’s the necessities of life, and sometimes people just need to be comforted in whatever trial they are experiencing at the time. If you have had a similar trial and God has comforted you, then you do have something very good to share with others. You can pass on that same kind of comforting, because you do know how it feels, and often what is needed. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 is a powerful and empowering spiritual principle of receiving and giving comfort. Every time we comfort others as God has comforted us we will have helped to create an environment for growth in someone else’s life, and therefore, in the congregation and church. These are the kind of lessons that endure, as the lesson from my mother has in my life.