"Comfort, Comforts, Comforted" 

2 Cor.1:3-4 "Blessed be the God and Father of our LORD Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."

Indeed, what a blessing it is to be comforted by God, who is the ultimate source of every true act of comfort. The Greek word for "comfort" is related to the familiar word Paraclete, "one who comes alongside to help", another name for the Holy Spirit. Comfort often connotes softness and ease, but that is not the meaning here. Paul is saying that God came to him in the middle of his sufferings and troubles to strengthen him and give him courage and boldness. We are not only blessed to be a blessing. We are comforted to be comforter. I hope this comforts you, to know He is emboldening you to comfort others.

With His grace,
Pastor Fred