Consolation in Christ

Philippians 2:1

If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,

There is a difference between consolation and comfort. God never uses two words with similar meanings by accident, but He uses them to emphasize truths necessary to the believer. When God uses the word comfort, He is talking about a physical comfort. In other words, comfort is helping someone physically. This is why God says, if any comfort of love. You cannot comfort someone without love. There is action in comfort. For instance, a mother comforts a child who has scraped their knee by putting a band-aid on it. A dad comforts his daughter when he hugs her after being hurt. Comfort deals with the physical, and God uses people to give comfort.

However, consolation is different. Consolation is alleviating the internal; it is alleviating grief and disappointment. Consolation is helping someone cope with loss or emotional pain. You will notice that consolation is the work of Christ. Only Christ can refresh the spirit of the one who has grief. Only Christ can relieve the mind that everything will be okay despite what you face. Consolation is a work that only Christ can perform, but comfort is a work of Christ through the believer helping others. Let me share a few thoughts about the consolation of Christ.

First, Satan always provides an alternative for consolation, but his alternatives only make matters worse. Many turn to vice to cope with hurt, grief, disappointment, and emotional pain. The problem with vices is that they always make problems worse. The vice Satan offers always increases your problems. If you think the problems you are dealing with are bad right now, use the vices Satan offers and you will always find those things will get much worse.

Second, you will never find consolation from people. We seek consolation from people, but consolation is an internal work of Christ. You can tell everyone your problems on social media, but that will never give you the consolation you need. In fact, turning to social media or people for consolation is to make them your god. You will find yourself empty by trying to get consolation from the external.

Third, consolation comes through God’s Word. Christ is the Word according to John 1:1. Only God’s Word can assuage your grief. When dealing with emotional problems, God’s Word is the answer to finding the consolation you need. God’s Word is the balm of Gilead that relieves the pain you face. God’s Word is the ibuprofen that eases the pain so you can make it through your problems. God’s Word is the air conditioner that allows you to endure the heat of your trials. You will never find the consolation you need without spending time with Christ in His Word.

Fourth, Christ gives consolation through prayer. 1 Peter 5:7 says, Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Prayer is the place where you unload your problems on Christ. Hebrews 4:16 reminds us, Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. My friend, it is in prayer where God gives consolation by taking your problems upon Himself. Instead of looking for an external way to alleviate your grief, go to God in prayer and you will find He will ease the pain and lift the burden you carry.