A Reflection On Comfort

When I need to feel the Presence of the Holy Spirit

Jesus speaks often in John 14–16 about the Holy Spirit’s comforting purpose. Where many translations use “Counselor,” others use “Comforter.” Both are appropriate. The Spirit is a comforting Counselor who promises us peace, and He is a counseling Comforter who promises to relieve our fears.

When we are unsettled, we ask a lot of “why” questions. “Why did this happen to me?” “Why does God seem so absent?” “Why doesn’t God do something?” During these times, we must remember the promise of the Holy Spirit, a promise from a sovereign God who is “always ready to help in times of trouble” (Psalm 46:1). Faith will make His Presence—with all of His peace and comfort—real to us.

But what if this same Spirit lives within us? Not only will we have comfort and peace, we will minister to others in their trials. We will be comforting counselors and counseling comforters. We will represent “the God of all comfort” (2 Corinthians 1:3, NIV) as He ministers through us.

The Father of compassion and the God of all comfort . . . comforts us in all our troubles, so we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4, NIV