Daily Devotions with Pastor John - God comforts us in our affliction.

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2:02At 316 financial, 10% of our profits are given back to faith-based ministries, supporting work that makes a lasting difference. It's a simple idea. Every day banking can be a powerful way to live generously, and you don't have to sacrifice quality to bank with purpose. 316 financial offers modern online banking, no monthly fees, free ATM access nationwide, and competitive interest rates designed to help your money grow responsibly. Whether you're saving for the future, managing everyday expenses, or looking for a bank that reflects what matters most to you, 316 financial makes it easy to bank with intention. Learn more and open an account today at bank316.com. Banking services are provided by 316 financial, a division of premise bank, member FDIC. You're listening to Daily Devotions with Pastor John. I'm John Stongy, and today's devotion is inspired by 2 Corinthians chapter 1, verses 3 and 4, which says,

3:03Blessed 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. In every life, there are seasons that weigh so heavily upon us that were tempted to despair. When these seasons come, and even after they've left, we will find ourselves searching for some level of comfort to help us recuperate from the experience. What are we seeking to find comfort in? What do we hope will have the power to soothe our souls? There are dangerous things in this world that offer a false promise of comfort, and those things eventually turn into compulsions or addictions if we grant them unhealthy access to our minds and our hearts. Scripture reminds us that true comfort can be found for our grieving

4:07spirits. Through Jesus, we are granted access to the Father. He is the source of mercy. He is the provider of genuine and lasting comfort. He's pleased to comfort us in the midst of our afflictions and grant us His power and His wisdom that we can utilize in our efforts to comfort others. His comfort is lasting, and in Him we find real peace. Let's pray. Lord, we thank You for Your Word, and we thank You for the privilege that it is to be able to look at it together today. And, Lord, we are grateful that through Your Son, Jesus Christ, we have a relationship with You. And You tell us in Your Word that You are the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort. And, Lord, we know that throughout the course of our lives, we need Your comfort. We need to be the recipients of Your mercy. There are seasons of life that stretch

5:07us, and discourage us, and make us feel so powerless that we realize that we need to come to You for the strength and the help that we need. At times when Word discouraged, it's easy for us to try and find comfort in lesser things. And, sometimes, the things that we as human beings try to find comfort in end up becoming compulsions or addictions that are very unhealthy. But, Lord, You tell us in Your Word that You are the God of all comfort, You are the Father of mercy, and You give us Your comfort, and then You enable us to comfort others with the comfort that we received from You. So, we are grateful to know this, and we are grateful that You do this on our behalf. In the midst of this journey that we're on right now, there are a lot of difficult moments, but you're right here with us, you're empowering us, you're helping us, you're showing us Your mercy, and you're granting us Your comfort as a true gift. We're grateful for it, Lord, and we're grateful for the reminder that we find in Your Word today that tells us of these things,

6:11so that our hearts can be lifted up in the midst of difficult seasons. We thank You for all of Your blessings today, and we commit this day to Your care, and pray this all in Jesus' name. Amen.