Paul opens his second letter to the Corinthians by calling us to be conduits of comfort. God comforts us so that we can comfort others with the comfort we received from God. It's akin to why God gives us money--not only for our own needs but to be a blessing to others with the money we recognize as coming to us from the hand of our God. Later in 2 Corinthians Paul says, "You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God." (2 Cor. 9:11)

As we experience suffering and the grace of God to sustain us in it, so God equips us and enlists us for ministry to others. We act as conduits of comfort not by telling people, "I made it through; so can you." But by saying, "I couldn't do it, but God gave me strength." In 2 Cor. 1:9 Paul speaks of God's lesson through the severity of his affliction: "But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead." Paul will reiterate this point toward the close of his letter when he says, "For when I am weak, then I am strong." That strength is found in the power of Christ and the sufficiency of His grace . (2 Cor. 12:9-10) That means for us to be conduits of comfort, we need to point people to Christ.

To borrow Paul's words regarding money, we are called to be generous in every way with the comfort with which we have been enriched by the grace of God. The upshot of the principle, whether it be comfort or money, will be thanksgiving to God through Jesus Christ.