Scripture for Today:  II Corinthians 1:3-4  “Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles so that we may be able to comfort those experiencing any trouble with the comfort with which we ourselves  are comforted by God.”

We go through sponges quite often in our home.  That is because Tiger, our cat, thinks of them as his personal property!  He loves to rip them apart.  Greeting me as I come into the kitchen are little pieces of yellow sponge all over the kitchen floor.  We have tried putting on the sponge a number of different cleaning products to discourage him.  But we do not always remember.  We would be rich by now if we had invested in whatever stock company sells those sponges!

Like sponges, we soak up the comfort God gives us.  Our verse for today reassures us of His mercy and comfort when we are experiencing trouble.  He is the God of all comfort.  His Spirit is called the “Comforter.”  His heart is touched by all our weaknesses and infirmities.   We can approach Him with confidence and receive His mercy (Hebrews 4:15-16).

There is a second purpose to the comfort He gives.  We experience His comfort so that we can share that same comfort with others.  There is credibility to comfort given out of a shared experience.  I can relate to those whose parents are experiencing failing health.  I am experiencing that same sadness.  He wants me to share His comfort with others experiencing this same heartache.

My sponge should not remain saturated.  I do not want to keep all His comfort for my own troubles.  Thank you, Lord for Your precious comfort and use me to share it with others.