Affliction's Reward

2 Corinthians 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 affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."

As I sat on the floor and I looked into the red eyes of my bewildered son, I felt a transfer of sorts. Years before, it was me on the floor grieving. I had felt the darkness of disappointment and helplessness. Back then, the weight of unexpected loss was like a punch to the solar plexus. As I walked through grief, just doing the next necessary thing, I accepted the idea that I might never smile a genuine smile again.

But one day the sun shone into my soul, and I smiled from my heart. I thought, “Oh, there it is. I didn’t think it would return.” I received abundant comfort from God both from the Spirit and from the many, many people who supported my family. At the time, it felt like just surviving, taking the next breath. But overtime it became like a reservoir of comfort.

Because I had suffered, I was able to validate my son’s pain and to encourage him that this pain would not last forever. It was a dark spot on the road. A bend, not the end.  I understood his hurt while also dispelling any lies that threatened to turn his thoughts toward darkness. I would not have chosen the path of grief that I walked, but as I got up from the floor and hugged my son, I felt grateful. I was exhausted, but thankful that I was able to comfort him with the comfort I had received myself. Affliction's reward is the ability to comfort others. Like an oasis in the desert, we can minister to those from the well of comfort that God poured for us. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort.”