For even when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted at every turn—fighting without and fear within. 6 But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, 7 and not only by his coming but also by the comfort with which he was comforted by you, as he told us of your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced still more.

“Jesus Christ is both a comfort for Christians and an irritation for the world.”  Woodrow Kroll

Here is a stupendous reality to believe: God comforts people. For so many of us, this is not theory but experience. We know it to be true. Jesus spoke of the Holy Spirit as ”the Comforter”, and believers regularly prove that He is all that Jesus said of Him.

Note in particular in our text that God comforts the downcast. This takes us back into chapter one, and we’ll have a closer look at it in a couple of days.

Are you feeling discouraged as you read this? Know that your God is real, and with you and is able to lift up your head. Thomas Manton was surely correct to say:

“One way to get comfort is to plead the promise of God in prayer, show Him His handwriting; God is tender of His Word.” 

If your car is low in fuel you know you need to take it to the garage. Similarly, if your soul is depleted, surely you know where to find the filling station?

God comforts the downcast.