Praise, Hope and Comfort

Paul and Timothy begin a letter to their dearly loved ones in Corinth with a doxology of hope and comfort. They seem to realize that whatever solace they can offer to those who suffer comes through them and through Christ from God Himself. So they give glory to the Source of all comfort:

"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 have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort." ~ 2 Corinthians 1:3-7