Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Encouraging Words - Daily Devotion

Today's Verse

"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. … 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."

2 Corinthians 1:3–4, 6

Encouragement for Today

God doesn't always reveal why he lets us suffer, but here he gives us clues as to how he redeems it. When we suffer, he comforts us (if we allow him to). Then, when we encounter someone who is going through something similar, we can offer our own empathy from having gone through a similar trial. That in itself is often a comfort to the other person. If we can share specific instances of God's comfort, that further encourages the other person. In this process, our sense of God's purpose for our pain further strengthens us.
—Diane Eble, author of Abundant Gifts: A Daybook of Grace-Filled Devotions

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