"God is the source of comfort, but people were the face (means) of comfort...God is behind all comfort, but he uses others to do the comforting, which means that God is in the business of building relationships. We depend completely upon God, and he often uses people to meet our needs."
I have no greater joy...
How appropriate a quote in the light of our support group today for encouragement.
Today after a quick review of past lessons on comfort, we focused on II Corinthians 7:5-12 and how Titus was used to encourage Paul as well as the church. Paul had just written his most emotional letter of all his letters.
The question posed to us,
"What do you find the most challenging in your care giving?"
The most challenging issues in care giving:
Exhaustion
Uncertainty
Emotional upheaval
Discouragement
(verses 6, 7)
6 Nevertheless God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, 7 and not only by his coming, but also by the consolation with which he was comforted in you, when he told us of your earnest desire, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced even more.
Titus showed up in person with a letter from Paul to encourage.
WE ARE ENCOURAGED BY RELATIONAL COMFORT.
I Thessalonians 5:11
"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."
One thing we learned is that people play a big part in our lives through means of comfort.
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