God's Abundant Consolation

Consolation is the act of comforting someone. It comes from the Father, because He is “the God of all comfort” (v. 3). God’s children are expected to suffer persecutions “for Christ's sake” (2 Cor 12:10). However, we are given the precious promise that “our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.” After salvation (Titus 3:5), our bodies became “the temple of the Holy Ghost” (1 Cor 6:19); Who is also our “Comforter” (Jn 14:16)! Although the sufferings that God allow in our lives “is but for a moment” (2 Cor 4:17), He will always provide enough consolation so that we “may be able to bear it” (1 Cor 10:13).

 We can always rest upon God’s enduring mercy (Ps 136:1), and unfailing love (Jer 31:3). He gives us the strength we need (Php 4:13), to face any trials that may come our way! When we experience His abundant comfort and peace (Php 4:7), we become keenly aware of others who may be going through a similar trial (Php 2:4). We therefore “comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted” (v. 4). God’s grace towards us (2 Cor 12:9), causes us to become more compassionate on their troubles and helps us to console them.

When sufferings abound, His consolation abounds more! His provisions are always greater than what we suffer. The same principle applies to “where sin abounded, grace did much more abound” (Rom 5:20). Since the world hated our Lord Jesus (Jn 15:18), His sufferings are going to “abound in us,” when we live for Him (Lk 9:23). It doesn’t mean that we are going to suffer just as He did on the cross. But as “partakers of Christ's sufferings” (1 Pet 4:13), the mockeries and rejections that He endured (Jn 15:20), will also be inflicted upon us for the same reasons. Because “all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Tim 3:12). But we can always rejoice because of His abounding grace and comfort! God bless you!

- Pastor Melito Barrera