Conflict On The Outside, Fear Within, God’s Comfort Throughout

“In fact, when we came into Macedonia, we had no rest. Instead, we were troubled in every way: conflicts on the outside, fears within. But God, who comforts the downcast [tapeinos], comforted us by the arrival of Titus.” (2 Corinthians 7:5-6, CSB)

Confession – conflict makes me very uneasy. I’m not a conflict person at all and try to avoid it at all costs. You may be able to relate. Conflict on the outside almost always inevitably leads to unrest. Unrest is the perfect place for fear to take root in our lives. What fears are you dealing with today? How are they disrupting and derailing your rest? What conflicts are you faced with? Are they of your own making or are you the unwanted recipient of it? Regardless of the answer, the result is unrest. Wherever there is unrest, there is a lack of peace. I don’t know about you, but when I get overwhelmed I sometimes take a break, take a big breath, and drop my head as I ponder the weight of it all. What I am doing physically is an expression of what I am feeling internally. Dropping my head in exhaustion is evidence of a downcast spirit.

But God has something for us right in the middle of our conflicts and fears. He has comfort for the downcast. The Greek word for “downcast” is tapeinos and it can also be translated as gentle, lowly, or humble. In our moments of fear and in the presence of conflict where we may be facing anxiety and stress, having tapeinos leads us to a place of humility and grateful there is a good God who will meet us and provide comfort for us! This is exactly what 2 Corinthians 7:5-6 is reminding us. But I want us to pause on something a bit unexpected that happens in these verses. God provides tangible comfort through the presence of another person.

Paul lets the church in Corinth know that they will experience comfort through the arrival of Titus. In other words, God uses another believer to be an agent of comfort for those living in unrest.

It’s unclear what Paul and his companions were expecting but comfort from Titus is what they received. Sometimes when we are fearful, we want and expect to be comforted in familiar ways. But when we are humble and open, we become more aware of how God might be working in our lives.

Friends, be on the lookout today for the way God is providing comfort for you. It may be something so simple as the affection of a loved one. It may be an unexpected text from a friend. It may be a simple nudge deep in your Spirit that warms your whole being as you are reminded that God is with you at that moment. It may simply be your favorite cup of coffee or tea. Wherever you receive comfort, especially in the unexpected, know that God is behind it all.

And let’s not forget that while we long to be recipients of comfort, one of the most powerful things we can do is be agents of comfort. So take out your phone and think about the first few people in your life that mean so much to you. Send them a text message with a simple note expressing your gratitude for them in your life. When you are done, put your phone down and pray this simple prayer:

God, thank you for giving me comfort, even in unexpected ways so I can be a source of comfort to others. Amen.