I could hear his words of comfort and encouragement over the hum of the engine. It was hard to believe that he had been so apprehensive about making the trip. He did not think he had the skills or knowledge to do mission work in an unfamiliar setting. There was also another issue. It was a physical problem, a genetic abnormality that affected his appearance. He had experienced a great deal of cruelty during his teen years. He did not want to make others uncomfortable, and he did not want to be the object of ridicule. He was not confident that he was the man for the job, but he also felt strongly that God was telling him to go.
It was almost 10:00pm as the van rolled along a winding West Virginia road. Most nights were noisy as we delivered kids to their homes. Songs, crafts, and Bible School refreshments helped pump up the volume. But on this night, the kids were quiet. There was only the hum of the engine and the enthusiastic voice of my young friend as he reassured a teen girl about the gracious and unending love of God. She was a gangly teen with glasses and a ruddy complexion. During this Bible School week, she had been quiet and withdrawn. On this night, my friend encouraged her to talk. She told him about her awkwardness and the rejection she experienced at school and in the mobile home park where she lived. Her pain was real and intense, and my friend could relate.
There is no professional counselor or pastor who could have had a greater effect on her that night. My friend simply focused compassionately on her pain. He understood her and listened without judgment. He had been there. With a Christlike gentleness, he spoke about family and church support systems. His most comforting words were about the unconditional, life-changing, attitude adjusting love of God. He reminded her that Jesus was the answer and that He would always love her.
She disappeared with a wave and a smile into the shadows around her front door. At that moment, I understood why God had so strongly urged my friend to go to West Virginia. There was a fifteen-year-old girl there who needed exactly what my friend could offer. Paul wrote these words to the Corinthian Church: “…it is the God of all comfort Who comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort that we ourselves received from God.” That is exactly what my young friend did. Out of his own suffering, he offered empathy, support, comfort, hope, and Jesus!
If there is any good thing that can result from our suffering, it is that our suffering equips us to channels of God’s comfort and love to others. When pain and pressures invade your life, look to the Lord Jesus for your comfort and hope and remember that He is equipping you to share that comfort and hope with others 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
