"For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ." (NKJV)
Consolation. Paul tells us that when sufferings abound, so does our consolation. Now, I have to tell you, I don’t like that word very much. In the English language, my impression of consolations are sort of a "cluck, cluck" by an old mother hen trying to make someone believe that life really isn’t as bad as it is. "Consolation" goes with second place (consolation prize), a second chance with a lesser opponent (consolation game), and such.
Ug!
Thankfully the Greek is so much deeper and fuller, showing me so much more of what God has for me.
The Greek word is paraklesis (Strong’s G3874). The same root gives us Parakletos, one of the titles of the Holy Spirit. As the Parakletos, the Holy Spirit is our Comforter by being our advocate and teacher. That is a much stronger role than that of someone who simply pats us on the back and tells us everything will be okay.
Paraklesis has very broad meanings including "a summons for help; exhortation, admonition, and encouragement; comfort and solace which affords refreshment; persuasive discourse which is instructive and admonitory." By seeing these meanings, it becomes clear that the "consolation" which abounds in Christ during or through suffering is far more, far greater than simply the kind of consoling that I might envision.
When we are suffering, the consolation that abounds through Christ includes:
• A summons for help
• Instructive admonition and encouragement
• Refreshment
A summons for help
The Lord and the Lord alone is our help in times of trouble (Psalm 9:9-10). He is the only one we can count on to be there when we are hurting, when we have sinned, and when things are so bad that it seems nothing can help us. Our comfort comes because we can call for Him—summon Him—for whatever help is needed. The blessing is that He will provide the help that is most appropriate.
"Unless the Lord had been my help, my soul would soon have settled in silence. If I say, ‘My foot slips,’ Your mercy, O Lord, will hold me up. In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul." (Psalm 94:17-19 NKJV).
How many times have you been in a situation where you thought you saw the way out or the solution only to find that your solution simply mucked things up worse? I certainly have been in those situations. The blessing of the Lord’s comfort is that His answer, His solution, is always perfect! When I sin, He provides mercy. When I’m anxious, He provides comfort. The consolation of Christ is that we can cry to the Lord and He will hear us (Psalm 3:4, 120:1).
Instructive admonition and encouragement
I don’t like to be admonished. I like being right and I hate being told I’m wrong. So there is great peace in knowing that when the Lord admonishes me, He is also there to encourage me. In other words, He doesn’t admonish me and then abandon me (which happens to us often in life). His admonishment is couched in encouragement; His only point in admonishment is to encourage us to improve, to become more like Christ.
"He who instructs the nations, shall He not correct, He who teaches man knowledge? The Lord knows the thoughts of man, that they are futile. Blessed is the man whom You instruct, O Lord, and teach out of Your law, that You may give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit is dug for the wicked. For the Lord will not cast off His people nor will He forsake His inheritance." (Psalm 94:10-14 NKJV).
Receiving the Lord’s correction, His admonition, and His teaching is a blessing for us because it will give us rest from the days of adversity. Once we have learned the lesson for which the tribulation was given, that lesson is done and we can move on with the Lord to other lessons.
Refreshment
Life is a burden. There may be times when it isn’t so, but there are many times when it is so. Even for those of us who seem to smile and laugh, there are often hidden sorrows and anxieties; we feel greatly burdened if not for ourselves then for the problems of those around us. The Lord brings admonition (teaching) as a time of refreshing. Life can seem grim because we see only one way to go, but the Holy Spirit can teach us that there is another option, one of His making, and suddenly we can feel energized and refreshed. We no longer feel burdened because there is another way, a better way.
"Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began." (Acts 3:19-21 NKJV).
Times of refreshing are a promise from God. We can depend on them, look for them, even seek them, remembering that as we seek these times what we are really seeking is the Lord Himself, to bask in His presence, to trust His judgment and His plan, to learn to rejoice in His will and His love.
The consolation that the Lord has promised begins with a call to Him for help, continues with receiving His gentle admonition and welcomed encouragement, and concludes with a time of refreshing in His presence. As tribulations abound, so does in equal or great measure the consolations of our Lord toward us. The comfort comes that our Comforter—not just a process, but a real Person—is no further away than a whispered cry for help.
© 2015 Robin L. O’Hare. All rights reserved. Permission granted for nonprofit and church groups to use this article in its entirety (including this notice). For other uses, please contact servinggodalone@yahoo.com.
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