2 Corinthians 1:4
“Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”
Several years ago I was talking to a couple who were facing a very big trial. On the onset of their trial, I told the husband that he needed to make notes of every stage that they went through and how they made it through each stage. I told him that God could use their trial to help many others who face the same thing.
That is exactly what the verse above is teaching. Many times God sends us through trials so that we can learn how to help others when they face the same situation. It would be sad to go through the whole trial and miss the lesson God wanted us to learn. I have often said that we are God’s object lessons to others. God uses us an example for what others will have to face.
When I think of this truth, I think of Job. Job went through several different trials at one time. We often run to Job and study his life so that we know how to face our trials. Yes, Job’s trials were certainly sent his way to make him stronger, but they were also sent his way to show us how to go through our trials and come out victorious.
How many times have you read the Book of Psalms when going through trials? Do you realize that many of the Psalms were written in heartache? Why did God allow the psalmist to go through such heartache? He allowed it so that his heartache could be a comfort to us. He allowed it so that we would learn how to face our trials.
Inside of every trial you face is a lesson you can learn to help comfort someone else. God says, “Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble,…” God allows people to face cancer so they can help others who face cancer. God allows a parent to lose their child so they can help other parents who lose their child. God allows a parent to have a handicapped child so they can help other parents with handicapped children. You name the trial, and every time God allows it so that you can help others who go through the same situation.
Don’t miss the lesson in your trials. I would hate to think that I wasted the lesson in the trial. I would hate to think that what God sent my way to help others was wasted because I didn’t take time to learn the lesson.
Christian, complaining will cause you to miss the lesson. Sulking will cause you to miss the lesson. Quitting on God will cause you to miss the lesson. Running from your heartaches will cause you to miss the lesson. Don’t miss the lesson because of your self-pity and self-centeredness.
Always remember that every trial you face is sent your way so you can help someone else. When you face trials, you are going to have to focus and learn each stage and how you got through it so you can help others. Let your trials be lessons to help others, and you will find that your trials can be turned into blessings.