We Need God’s Love

            “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” – 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Ever notice how when we’re tired, sick, emotionally drained, or depressed that it’s harder to tend to the needs of others?  Isn’t it easier to become impatient with them instead?  The realization that one cannot properly care for others without first properly caring for oneself may seem like nothing more than simple logic.

However, common practice tells us otherwise. How many times have we asked people how they’re doing only to find our minds wandering to our own troubles before we’ve even heard a reply? Or how often have we done a favor for a friend half-heartedly or even lousily? How did that initial desire to lend a helping hand somehow turn into the grudging fulfillment of an obligation?

It’s probably safe to say that in a fair share of those instances, we are unable to fully and genuinely show love to our neighbors because we ourselves are feeling in need of full and genuine love. Just board an airplane and within the first ten minutes, a similar message is conveniently illustrated to us by the flight attendants located at the front of the cabin—in case of an emergency, secure your own oxygen mask before helping those around you.

These instructions are not given out of a sort of every-man-for-himself mentality but rather, for the safety of all those aboard the plane.  If your own oxygen mask was thrown haphazardly around your face, you’d probably pass out before you could really help the person next to you. Furthermore, you not only put yourself at risk, but the welfare of others as well. With your own mask insecure, you might hinder or damage others’ efforts despite your good intentions.

In relation to our spiritual lives, the life-sustaining force that we need to fill ourselves with before we can truly come to the aid of others is not oxygen, but love.  And the source of this love is God Himself, for God is love. As stated in 2 Corinthians 1:4, God “comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” This passage tells us that in order to give comfort, we must first have received it. 

Providing comfort is just one of the many ways in which God loves us and in which we can love all those around us. In order to have this constant supply of God’s love radiating both within us and toward others, we must renew our relationship with Him every day. 

Securing a strong connection with God on a daily basis is as essential to our spiritual lives as breathing in oxygen is to our physical survival. Human efforts can only take us so far.  However, frequent intakes of God’s spirit and His word will turn into a never-ending stream of love that can be channeled to others effectively and whole-heartedly.

Questions for reflection:

1. Identify within yourself the condition of your connection and relationship with God. What do you find?
2. Is His love deeply rooted in you when you find yourself in a situation to comfort others?