I was talking with someone a while back and they shared with me about a very difficult season they endured in the past.  This person testified the only way they survived that season was because the Lord brought them through it.  And while they acknowledged that their faith grew during that season, they said there was an even better result.  That difficult season taught them to have more empathy and show more grace to others who are in a difficult season.  As we spoke, I was reminded of Paul’s words to the church in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4,

2 Cor 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

I love that verse and I love the promise of God’s faithfulness.  Even in dark and difficult times, we can trust the Lord to walk with us, strengthen us and comfort us.  We can trust that He will bring us through those times.  And we can trust that the Lord will use those times to help us grow in our faith and prepare us to comfort others with the same comfort we have received from Him.  We truly serve a loving and gracious God.