Day 6 — The God of All Comfort

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.”

— 2 Corinthians 1:3–4 (BSB)

Some of the hardest feelings come when we lose someone or something we love. A grandparent dies. A pet dies. A best friend moves far away. Parents split up. A family has to move and leave everything behind.

That deep sadness is called grief. And it can hurt more than almost anything.

Grief can feel different for different people. Some guys cry a lot. Some feel numb, like nothing is real. Some feel angry. Some feel fine one day and terrible the next. Some feel guilty, even though it wasn’t their fault. All of that is normal.

Paul wrote today’s verse after going through terrible troubles. And he called God “the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort.”

Compassion means feeling someone’s pain with them. Comfort means being there to strengthen and help someone who’s hurting. God isn’t far away when you’re grieving. He comes close. He feels your pain with you. And He comforts you.

Jesus Himself wept when His friend Lazarus died, even though He knew He was about to raise him. He didn’t tell anyone that grief was silly. He cried with them.

Here are some things that help when you’re grieving:

• Let yourself be sad. You don’t have to be tough. Crying is okay.
• Tell God how you feel, even if you’re angry or confused.
• Talk to your family. They might be grieving too. You can help each other.
• Remember the good things. Look at photos, tell stories, or write down your favorite memories.
• Hold on to hope. For people who trust Jesus, death isn’t the end. One day He will wipe away every tear.
• Give it time. Grief doesn’t go away all at once.

If your sadness doesn’t get any better after a long time, or it makes everyday things really hard, tell a parent or trusted adult. Getting help is the right thing to do.

And look at the end of the verse: God comforts us “so that we can comfort those in any trouble.” Someday, the comfort you receive will help you comfort someone else who’s hurting.

This week, you’ve learned that Jesus had feelings, and how to handle anger, sadness, pressure, bottled-up feelings and grief. Feelings are part of being a man. Bringing them to God is part of being a son of the King.

A true story: John Paton was a young Scottish missionary who sailed to the faraway island of Tanna in the South Seas with his wife, Mary. But only weeks after they arrived, Mary and their baby son both grew sick and died. John dug their graves with his own hands. He said later that if he hadn’t known Jesus was near him, the grief would have been too much to bear. But God comforted him, and John didn’t give up. He stayed and kept serving, and years later, on another island called Aniwa, he dug a well and found fresh water, and a whole island came to follow Jesus. The man who knew deep grief became a man who brought life and hope to others. You can read his whole story in Brave for God.

Think about it: Have you ever lost someone or something you loved? What helped you, or what might have helped?

Try this: Think of someone you know who is sad or grieving right now. Do something kind for him or her: send a note, pray, or just sit with them.

Dear God, thank You that You are the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort. When I’m grieving, help me bring my sadness to You. Comfort me, and help me comfort others who are hurting. In Jesus’ name, Amen.