Rev. Don Campbell
Don’t Waste Your Wounds
In interpreting a passage, we must always consider the context. For example, when John wrote that Jesus is the propitiation for “our sins,” the “our” refers to believers, because he went on to say, “and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:2).
When Paul wrote: “ 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 Cor 1:3-4), the context makes it clear that Paul is referring to himself and—perhaps—Timothy (2 Cor 1:1), Titus (2 Cor 8:16), and an unnamed brother, whom many believe to have been Luke (2 Cor 8:18).
That does not mean there is no lesson to be learned from this. As the Soul Care Bible says, “God never wastes a wound. Through them, we learn the ability to empathize with others who suffer, and we learn firsthand the comforting power of God.”
When we wallow in our wounds, we waste them. When we embrace them and accept God’s comfort and, in turn, comfort others, the love of God flows through us, for he is the God of all comfort.
