Comfort's Expert Witness
"...the God of all comfort..." In reflecting on this phrase today, I found myself confused and conflicted. "Parakelsis," the Greek word used here by Paul for "comfort" carries with it the idea of legal proceedings. It means someone who comes to present evidence or testimony in a legal case. (John uses a similar word to describe the Holy Spirit in John 16.) So what is Paul saying when he says God is the God of all "paraklesis?"
Well, I'm no authority on legal proceedings, but I do know that both sides in a case always want to bring the best evidence they can to a case. Both sides want to find "expert witnesses" who will support their claims and give their cases credibility. It dawned on me that when we are "on trial" or going through "trials" (ironic that we call it that when we are going through troubles, eh?) that the best one to offer us comfort or console us is someone who has been there, who understands what we're going through.
That seems to ring true in my own life. When I have been through something, I find myself much better equipped to help someone else going through the same thing. I am able to provide them comfort in a way I could not had I not shared a similar experience.
Thus, who better to be our "expert witness" or authority on pain and suffering, than the same Christ himself who suffered at the hands of men through his own choice; who endured taking the sin of the entire world (yours & mine included) upon himself. Who else could come along side us regardless of the situation and honestly say "I understand what you're going through, and I'm here for you."
God is the God of all comfort because he intimately understands our pains, as demonstrated through Christ. And he comes alongside us in our trials to let us know that we are not alone.
So hear this friend, you are not alone in your trial. God, our "expert witness," is with you. He will never leave you. In your darkest times, he is there. In you fearful places, he is there. No matter what has happened, what you have done, or what has been done to you, God, the God of ALL comfort, stands beside you.
Created 11 months ago
