Readings for today: Job 20-22, 2 Corinthians 1:1-11, Psalms 40:11-17, Proverbs 22:2-4
“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.” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)
One of the more powerful testimonies I’ve seen in a while was given recently by comedian and late night host, Stephen Colbert, in an interview with Anderson Cooper. (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=p5bkP8H5NHM) In the interview, they are discussion loss and grief and Stephen shares remarkably about his faith in Christ and how it carries him through. He speaks movingly about the empathy that develops when one experiences suffering or tragedy and the ability it gives us to connect with others who may be going through something similar. This is exactly what the Apostle Paul is getting at in the opening words of his second letter to his Corinthian friends. They are suffering and yet God is there to not only comfort them but also use them to comfort others with the same comfort they’ve been comforted with. This is such an important lesson! The comfort God brings to us in times of pain or loss or grief is never simply for us. It is also a gift given to us to give to others in His name. All of us are wounded healers of one sort or another. All of us can speak vulnerably and honestly and transparently about our experiences with pain. All of us can bring comfort to others if we are willing to share from our own deep places of heartbreak.
There is a famous play by Thornton Wilder called, “The Angel that Troubled the Waters.” In the play, he describes the scene at the pool of Bethesda where a multitude of hurting people gather to wait for that miraculous moment when the angel of God descends, stirs up the waters of the pool, and they become a source of healing. Anxious, crippled, broken people gather here day after day, hoping against hope that they will be the ones to receive the gift of healing. Among them is one particular man who never seems to make it. Others are always jumping the line in front of him to get to the pool first. On this particular day, he cries out in desperation to the angel to help him into the water so he can find healing but the angel instead whispers to him, “Stand back, this healing is not for you. Without your wound where would your power be? It is your very remorse that makes your low voice tremble into the hearts of men. Not the angels themselves can persuade the wretched blundering children of earth as can one human being broken on the wheels of living. In love’s service, only wounded soldiers can serve.”
Why do the words of Job’s friends offer such small comfort? Because they do not come from the mouths of those wounded in love’s service. They do not come from men broken on the wheel of living. Yes, what they say often - thought not always - reflects God’s truth but the words are not offered in empathy or compassion. They are arguing with Job not comforting him. Thankfully, God never makes this mistake. In our deepest, darkest moments. When the future seems so bleak and the pain feels overwhelming. There God meets us. He wraps his arms around us. He doesn’t offer answers so much as he offers himself. He knows what it is to suffer so he can help those who are suffering. He knows what it is to feel alone and abandoned so he can help those who struggle with the same. In a very real sense, he himself has been “broken on the wheels of living.” He is the wounded soldier who serves the cause of love.
We all experience pain and suffering in this life. Some more than others. Some less than others. But all of us know its sting. We all experience grief and loss in this life. Some more than others. Some less than others. But all of us know what it’s like to lose someone we love. We all experience heartbreak and tragedy in this life. Some more than others. Some less than others. But all of us know what it feels like to have someone or something dear stolen from us. And by faith, these become gifts. Strange gifts to be sure but gifts nonetheless. Gifts we can share with others who may be going through the same thing. Friends, this is the beauty of the gospel. It is the story of a God who embraced suffering in order to bring comfort. Embraced pain in order to bring relief. Embraced death in order to bring life. And through Christ, all your pain and suffering and grief and heartbreak is redeemed. It becomes part of the beauty God is bringing out of the ashes of your life. It becomes a gift you get to share with those you love.
Readings for tomorrow: Job 23-27, 2 Corinthians 1:12-2:11, Psalms 41, Proverbs 22:5-6