Yesterday, I posted some reflections on 2 Corinthians 1:3-7. Below is a prayer from that same text.
Father of mercies and God of All Comfort,
Blessed be your name because you comfort us in all our afflictions through Christ. Whatever the affliction, no matter the pressure, you comfort us in all kinds of trouble. This is a gift. A blessing purchased for us by the precious blood of Christ. How could we ever thank you or praise you enough? We can’t! So, we will spend eternity, starting today, praising you for all that is ours in Christ.
We also bless you that you comfort us so that we may comfort others with your comfort. You have brought us into the work of comforting the afflicted and have given us the equipment of your own comfort to do so! Not only the comfort but the ministry of comfort is a gift. May we gladly join you and be used by you to comfort your people. May we do so in hope because there is no suffering that can match the greatness of your comfort!
Enable us to enjoy this comfort by faith even when we do not feel comforted. Even when we despair of life as Paul did, enable us to cling to resurrection confidence based on Christ’s resurrection (2 Corinthians 1:8-9). May we find comfort in forsaking self-reliance and instead rely on the One who can raise the dead.
Father, our Lord Jesus has promised we will have trouble in this world. But we can face all trouble with confidence because he has overcome the world. The One who has overcome the world has sent the Comforter to us. Remind us that true comfort is not an idea or concept. True Comfort is a Person, the Holy Spirit, who has been poured out on us. The comfort you give is an ever-present, all-powerful comfort because it is the gift of yourself.
In light of your mercy, in Jesus’ name,
Amen
See also: John 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7, 33
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