I worked hospice for a few years and pastored for a lot more. I don’t think I would be exaggerating to say that I think I’ve seen it all. Let me toss out a few words and you’ll understand. Cancer. ALS. Alzheimer’s. Suicide. Murder. Accidents. Child Abuse. Domestic Violence. Infant Death. Most pastors could toss out the same words, and perhaps even more.
There have been times when I wondered how people could go on after experiencing such tragedies. When I get to thinking like that, I remember a phrase in a verse in 2 Corinthians, “the God of all comfort.”
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.” [2 Cor 1:3-4]
I believe that the source of all comfort is God, that He truly is the Father of compassion. I believe that all comfort originates in and disseminates from Him, whether people are aware of that or not. When we display compassion, when we offer comfort to the wounded and hurting, we are offering them something straight from the heart of God.
I remember a lovely British man named David. He was living in a small trailer in a back yard, and he was dying. I visited him often. He refused to believe in my Jesus, but he still wanted me to come and talk. I would leave after each visit, devastated that I was unable to convince him of his need for salvation. I wept over him. I heard God tell me to continue to offer him compassion and comfort – as that may be the last time he’d experience that. Thoughts of David still make me weep.
Beloved, never hesitate to be God’s hand of compassion and comfort—even to those who might reject His salvation.
