More 2 Corinthians 1:3-5

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2 Corinthians 1:3-5 ESV
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, [4] 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. [5] For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.

Comfort.  A curious thing.  What we are comforted by in affliction can be as varied as the afflictions themselves.  Though the comforts God provides are "common" like the trials we face, they like our afflictions, are quite intimate and individual.  Certainly, we may all be comforted by all the promises in the Gospel we are also comforted by unique and very personal mercies.

In affliction we need to examine not only the affliction but we need to examine or look for that which brings us comfort.  The danger we face is in comforting the flesh instead of the spirit.  We talk of "comfort" food which my make us feel better but usually does little for our health and certainly does nothing for our spirit.  We need to be very careful to examine what comforts us and we need to begin by asking if indeed it is a comfort from God.

The world, the flesh and the devil will always seek to take advantage of us when we are under affliction.  When we are weak and most prone to lean on our own strength and wisdom that unholy three will do everything they can to lead us into comforts that are really no comfort at all.  They seek to trap us into accepting counterfeit comforts which only serve to make our affliction worse and lead us to feel even further away from the Lord.

God's comforts are not primarily about making us "feel" better but rather they are intended to strengthen our faith and bring peace to our hearts.  God wants us to lean upon Him all the time and especially in times of affliction.  Indeed, the very purpose of many afflictions is to bring us back under His care, leaning on His provision.  His comforts are intended for our growth, our perseverance and not necessarily for us to feel better.  If they are to make us "feel" anything, it is confidence, strength, hope, love, etc.

God's comforts are, well, godly.  They are part and parcel of His holiness and our sanctificaton.

Jesus asks:
Matthew 7:9-11 ESV
Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? [10] Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? [11] If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

This is as applicable to comforts as it is to any other prayer request we may make.  Of course I would ask, which one of you, if his son asks for a serpent will give him one?  In other words, there are times, and I suspect many times, when what we are praying for what we think is a "fish" is in truth a serpent.

James writes:
James 4:3, 7 ESV
You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.

Comfort is not always about feeling better.  That is a tough truth but a safe one.  We have to pray hard that our hearts and minds will be open and receptive to the comfort that God would send and not demand what we believe will comfort us.  We need, as I have said, to examine what we believe will comfort us to see if it is godly and according to His will.

Will it draw me closer to Him.  Will it bring honor to His name?  Will it contribute to my growing more like Christ. Is this a godly comfort,

In all affliction James' admonition is paramount:
James 4:7 ESV
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

In affliction our only and best hope is to submit ourselves to God, accepting the affliction as from Him and seeking how we may glorify Him in it.  This will go a long way to enable us to seek, receive and ackowledge the comfort He provides and not seek those comforts which are counterfeits, traps.

What comforts you?  What do you seek in affliction?  Do you cry out to God for the comfort He wants you to have, do you submit yourself to His will?  What comforts you?