The God Of All Comfort

"God, who comforts the downcast."   [2 Corinthians 7:6]

And who comforts like him? Go to some poor, melancholy, distressed child of God; tell him sweet promises, and whisper in his ear choice words of comfort; he is like the deaf adder, he listens not to the voice of the charmer, charm he never so wisely. He is drinking gall and wormwood, and comfort him as you may, it will be only a note or two of mournful resignation that you will get from him; you will bring forth no psalms of praise, no hallelujahs, no joyful sonnets. But let God come to his child, let him lift up his countenance, and the mourner’s eyes glisten with hope. You could not have cheered him: but the Lord has done it; “He is the God of all comfort.” [2Cor.1:3] There is no balm in Gilead, but there is balm in God. There is no physician among the creatures, but the Creator is Jehovah-rophi [Exo.15:26]. It is marvellous how one sweet word of God will make whole songs for Christians. One word of God is like a piece of gold, and the Christian is the gold beater, and can hammer that promise out for whole weeks. So, then, poor Christian, you need not sit down in despair. Go to the Comforter, and ask him to give you consolation. You are a poor dry well, you have heard it said, that when a pump is dry, you must pour water down it first of all, and then you will get water, and so, Christian, when you are dry, go to God, ask him to shed abroad his joy in your heart, and then your joy shall be full. Do not go to earthly acquaintances, for you will find them Job’s comforters after all; but go first and foremost to your “God, who comforts the downcast,” and you will soon say, “In the multitude of my anxieties within me your comforts delight my soul.” [Psa.94:19] Amen, God bless