What a wonderful word ‘comfort’ is, it means more than mere sympathy but the word speaks of ‘strengthening, make strong…brave,” It speaks of “courage.”  Between 2 Cor 1;3 and  v 7 the noun or verb form is mentioned nine times!  It is  far more than sympathy, but the courage for a person to be strengthened to face whatever life brings. God imparts “courage” for the follower of Christ to face life’s difficulties and not be destroyed by them, but to go through them, bravely.  The word, “afflictions,” {thlipsis} this word was always used to describe physical pressure on a man. R. C. Trench writes, “When, according to the ancient law of England, those who willfully refused to plead had heavy weights placed on their breasts, and were so pressed and crushed to death, this was literally “thlipsis.”

The great  insight and incentive is knowing that these great pressures,troubles, “afflictions” prepare us to comfort others who are going through their own pressures. “SO THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE to comfort those who are afflicted with the comfort you yourselves have RECEIVED …FROM…GOD…” -{Read 2 Cor :1-34}. God imparts His comfort, to strengthen us with courage to face our troubles and commissions us to comfort others with the same Comfort we have “received” and now can Impart… Your troubles need not be wasted, they are a springboard for you to lovingly, compassionately, understandably impart into the lives of the crushed!  We are Comforted to Comfort. It does not mean you have to have the same exact experience but it does speak what you both have in common is, you have been “crushed”- “afflicted” perhaps in different ways, but with this in common the Love of God is evident as He uses you, having HIMSELF comforted you…He now…COMMISSIONS …YOU …to Comfort the Crushed…. and you know what? There are a lot of people who are crushed and in need of Comfort… and God has raised you up, Equipped you, to Comfort them with His comfort… You have a God given Ministry, yes it’s been painful, is painful, and may continue to be painful… but it is a glorious God given assignment… to you… The Ministry Of Comfort!

The RESPONSE?

1, ,PRAISE HIM- The God of ALL Comfort

2. RECEIVE   – COMFORT… FROM HIM

3. COMMISSIONED – KNOW YOU ARE COMMISSIONED, AUTHORIZED and  ABLE TO IMPART HIS COMFORT TO OTHERS.

Crushed – Comforted – Commissioned to Comfort The Crushed