”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.” 2 Corinthians 1:3–4
When you need comfort, who do you think of first? A spouse? A close friend? A parent?
For most of my Christian life, my first source of comfort was not God—it was always another person. That’s a hard thing to admit for someone who claims to follow Christ. Especially when Jesus was crystal clear about who our ultimate Comforter is. He promised:
“If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” John 14:15-18
God isn’t just a source of comfort—He is the God of all comfort. His ability to console and restore us is so powerful that, even while we are still suffering, we’re able to offer real comfort to others. That’s exactly what Jesus did on the cross: He took care of His mother and led a dying thief beside Him into eternal life—all while He was in unimaginable agony.
So, why didn’t I experience that kind of comfort from God for so long?
Jesus gave us a clue in John 14 when He talked about obedience, which springs from love. Let me ask you: Have you ever tried to console a child who’s kicking, screaming, and completely resistant to your help? Or have you ached to protect a child who was constantly running away?
That was me—with God.
We cannot receive God’s comfort while we are running from His presence. If we stiff-arm Him through sin, pride, or self-sufficiency, we push away the very source of the comfort we need.
Our choices to live in the disobedience of sin keep us from experiencing the comfort of His Spirit.
God never forces His comfort on us. He doesn’t force us to love Him, or demonstrate it through obedience. But when we do, the peace and security of His presence are our incredible gift. We only begin to truly experience His marvelous comfort when we repent, draw near, and let Him lead us.
When we open our hearts, cast off the sin that hardens us, and invite God to reign, we feel His nearness. And once we experience His comfort, we never want to go back to anything less. We begin to seek Him—not out of obligation, but out of hunger. We long for His presence because it becomes our greatest source of comfort and peace. The worries of the world lose their grip. His voice drowns out our fears.
God’s nearness becomes our rest.
When God’s presence becomes necessary to us—not optional—we find His amazing comfort in every circumstance. Psalm 23 becomes not just a passage we recite, but a reality we live:
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil; For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”
Psalm 23:1–4
God’s comfort isn’t a distant theory or a future hope—it is a present experience for the one who draws near to Him. Let His peace become your personal testimony. Let His presence quiet your anxious thoughts and anchor your weary soul.
Daily Challenge:
Who do you turn to first when you need comfort? Today, take time alone with God—no phone, no distractions. Pour out your heart to Him and invite Him to show you what you need to change in order to draw closer to His comforting presence. Then—confess and ask Him to help you change. My friend, His presence will give you peace.
Closing Prayer:
Father, I confess that I have often run to others for comfort before I ran to You. Forgive me for neglecting our relationship. Teach me to draw near to You first. Reveal any thoughts, speech, or actions that are blocking my sense of Your presence. Make me sensitive to Your voice and hungry for Your Word. Let Your Spirit comfort me deeply so I can comfort others as You have comforted me. I want to live in Your nearness every day. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
