Paul writes “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 may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”
This is a unique way of thinking about affliction and the comfort we have through Christ. That comfort isn’t just for our benefit, it’s for the benefit of those around us, so that we can help them through times of difficulty. Comfort isn’t just a self-centered thing, although we often perceive it that way. It’s intended for communal benefit. “For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too”.
These concepts are made even more powerful when we reflect on Paul’s life – someone who suffered so much for Christ, yet he is concerned about the welfare of others. Yet he views that affliction as something “to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.” It is this sort of attitude of communal care and comfort that makes the gospel such a unique, precious gift.