That's what people always say. But I don't recall ever having seen it so straightforward in a scripture before:
Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.
And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.
2 Corinthians 1:3-6
In other words, Paul felt that when he was comforted, it was so that he could comfort those he served, and when he suffered, it was so that he could relate with those who suffered, and both so that he could better know Christ.
Must we suffer in our journey to know Christ?
ReplyDeleteWhat a blessing to come to know Christ through our trials, and then to be able to help others do the same.
To a certain extent, I do think we need to suffer. Not suffering without comfort - Paul doesn't say that. But Christ suffered so that He could know us, and when we inevitably suffer during life's trials, we come to know Him as well when we, like Him, turn around and use that suffering to bear others up. Here's a good talk by Elder Maxwell, who I recall touching on this subject fairly often.
ReplyDeletehttp://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=6174dbdcc370c010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____