“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.”

When my first long-term relationship went up in flames, my friend Robin sent a note to encourage me. She shared that before meeting her husband she had been engaged. Months before the wedding, the dress ready and invitations ordered, her fiancé walked away. “Nothing is wasted in God’s economy,” she wrote to me. “You will find this deep crater in your spirit will be filled by our gracious Lord and it will become a deep well. You will be able to drop your bucket deep into this well the rest of your life and draw up compassion for others, tenderness, and discomfort, all in the same bucket.”

Robin’s note was a soul-weary balm that afternoon; it was God’s compassion in real-time. From her own well of God-redeemed pain came comfort for my despair and hope for my tomorrow. For all my brokenness, I had a God near to me (Psalm 34:18), and someday I’d have my own well of God-redeemed pain to share with those traversing the same valleys. In sharing her story, Robin shared God’s love and compassion.

Years later, with newer, deeper wells to draw from, I can testify that it hurts to drop the bucket and share stories I’d rather not have. But “just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ'' (2 Corinthians 1:5). For every moment of suffering there is comfort, and comforted, we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to walk alongside those navigating the loss of a job, the loss of a family member, a diagnosis, or divorce. Comforted by Christ, a man of constant sorrow (Isaiah 53:3), we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to share those stories we’d rather not have, potentially saving a life. How will you share your story today?

Father of Compassion, thank you that you are close to us when we are broken-hearted and that you save us when we are crushed in spirit. Thank you that our pain is not an empty waste but a deep well filled with your compassion. Give us the courage to share your love and comfort to “those in any trouble” through our presence and our stories. In Jesus’ name, Amen.